CIHM 
Microfiche 
Series 
(Monographs) 


ICMH 

Collection  de 
microfiches 
(monographies) 


Canadian  Inathut*  for  Htotorical  Microfaproduetion*  /  Inttitut  Canadian  da  microraproductlons  hiatoriqtiaa 


©1995 


Taehnictl  and  BiMioaraphie  Notts  /  Nam  Mchniqim  «  biblioirapliiqiMi 


TiM  Imtitutt  hn  atumptad  to  obtain  tiM  bttt  Ofifinal 
copy  avniabi*  for  ffilmins.  Faaturai  of  thit  copy  which 
may  bt  biWioaraphically  imiqiM.  which  may  alltr  any 
of  th«  ima^it  in  tht  reproduction,  or  which  may 
significantly  changa  tha  unial  method  of  filming,  arc 
chacliad  balow. 


L'Inttitut  a  microfilm*  la  maillaur  axampla  .a  qu'il 
lui  a  M  postiMa  da  M  pfocurtr.  Lat  d*tail>  da  cat 
axamplaira  qui  Mnt  paut-«tra  uniquai  du  point  da  «ua 
Mbliographiqua,  qui  paunnt  modifier  una  image 
raproduite.  ou  qui  paunnt  exiger  una  modiflcetion 
dam  la  mMiode  normale  de  fihnage  lont  indiquts 
ci-dessout. 


'     /I  Coloured coMfl/ 

1  ^  I  Couverture  de  couleur 


D 
D 
D 


Covtri  danugid/ 
Couvtrtun  •ndommagfo 

Cotftri  rtftond  and/or  laminatMl/ 
CoHvartun  rntaurit  tt/ou  ptllicuMa 

Covar  titk  mning/ 

La  Htn  da  couvarture  manqua 


□  Colourad  maps/ 
Cartti  gteraphiquas  an  coulauf 


□  Colourad  pagai/ 
Pagas  da  coulaur 

□  Pagas  damagad/ 


□  Pagai  rastorad  and/or  laminalad/ 
Pavai  rastsurtas  at/ou  palliculAaf 

HPagat  dtscolound.  stainad  or  foxad/ 
Pagas  dAcolor«ts,  lachatiat  ou  piquaas 

□  Pagas  datacbad/ 
Pagas  dittchias 


Q  Colourad  ink  (j.a.  othar  than  Wua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  Waua  ou  noira) 

Q  Colourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planchas  at/ou  illustrations  an  coulaur 

□  Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RaliA  avac  d'autras  documants 


□  Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  raliura  sarria  paut  causar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
distorsion  la  long  da  la  marga  intiriaura 


D 


D 


Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may  appear 
within  iht  text.  Whenever  possible,  these  heve 
been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blenches  ejoutiet 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
meis,  lorsque  cela  itait  possible,  ces  pagas  n'ont 
pat  M  filmies. 


Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplementaircs: 


0Sho«vthrou«h/ 
Transparence 

□  Quelity  of  print  veries/ 
Qualiti  inigale  de  I'impression 

□  Continuous  peginetion/ 
Pagination  continue 

□  Includes  indexlesi/ 
Comprend  un  Ides)  index 


Title  on  heeder  taken  from:/ 
Le  title  de  I'enttte  provient: 


issue/ 

livretson 


□  Title  pege  of  issue 
Page  de  litre  de  le 

□  Caption  of  issue/ 
Titre  de  depart  de  la  livraison 

□  Mastheed/ 
Ginerique  Ipiriodiquet)  de  la  livreison 


This  item  is  filmed  et  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  film«  eu  Uux  de  rMuction  indiqui  ci-dessout. 


18X 


A 


»x 


22X 


Th*  copy  filmad  hara  haa  baan  rapreduead  thanki 
to  Iha  ganareaity  of: 

National  Library  of  Canada 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  griea  i  la 
g<n4roaM  da: 

Bibliothaqua  natlonala  du  Canada 


Tha  imaga*  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  ba«<  quality 
potsibia  eonaidrring  tha  condition  and  logibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  eonuact  apacificationa. 


Original  eopiaa  in  printad  papar  eovan  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  Impraa- 
(ion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  approprlata.  All 
othar  original  eopiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  ttia 
firat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  Impraa- 
aion,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  ^^  I  moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  symbol  V  Imaaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 


Las  imagas  suivantas  ont  M  raproduitas  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
do  la  nattat«  da  I'axampiaira  film4,  at  an 
conformM  avac  laa  conditions  du  contrat  da 
fllmaga. 

Laa  aaamplairaa  orlginaua  dont  la  couvanura  an 
papiar  aat  ImprimAa  sont  fllmas  an  eommancsni 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
darnlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaslon  ou  d'illustratlon,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  salon  la  caa.  Toua  laa  autras  axamplairas 
orlglnauii  sont  fllmta  an  eomman$ant  par  la 
pramitra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  darnMra  paga  qui  eompona  una  talla 
amprainta. 

Un  daa  symbolaa  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
darniira  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha.  salon  la 
cas:  la  symbola  —^signifia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
aymbola  ▼  aignifia  "FIN". 


Mapa.  plataa,  charts,  ate.  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratios.  Thosa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ana  axposura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  cornar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framas  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrama  illustrata  tha 
mathod: 


Laa  cartaa,  planchaa,  tablaaux.  ate.  pauvant  atra 
filmte  i  daa  taux  da  rMuction  diff grants. 
Lorsqua  la  documant  aat  trop  grand  pour  ttra 
raproduit  an  un  saul  clicha.  il  ast  filma  i  partir 
da  I'angla  supAriaur  gaucha.  da  gaucha  i  droita. 
at  da  haut  an  baa.  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'Imagaa  nOcasaaira.  Laa  diagrammaa  suivants 
Mluatrant  la  mothoda. 


1 

2 

3 

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2 

3 

4 

5 

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(ANSI  ond  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


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Rochoster,   New   York         U609       USA 

(716)  *B2  -  0300  -  PhonB 

<716)   288-5989 -Fax 


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*  A  S  t  o  r  Y  of  M  o  d  i- 


^.. 


"TET  NOT  MAN  PUT  ASUNDER" 

■*— •  It  THl  TENTH  OF  TWILVM  AUICR. 
ICAN  NOVELS  TO  BC  PUBLI.HEI)  BV 
HA«P«l»BFOTH«R»DU«lNOIgoI,W«ITTE« 
FOR  TH«  VHT  PART  BY  NIW  AMIRICAH 
WRITERS,  AND  DEALINO  WIVH  DIFFERENT 
PHASES  OF  CONTEHPORARY  AMERICAN  UtM. 
^LXl^Oy  FVtUSHSD 

••■ASTOVER  COURT  HOUSE."  B,H»k 
BonKHAM  Book,  ud  Kskkrh  Brow,. 

■•MARTIN  BROOK."    B,  M0.0AH  Bat» 
"A  VICTIM  OK  CIRCUMSTAHCEB."    B. 
Ghaloiki  Anthokv. 

•WESTERPKLT."    B,  W.^l  N.  Ha.»,. 
"THE  MANAOER  OF  THE  B  ft  A."    Bf 

"THE    SUPREME    SURRENDER."     Br 
A.  Maukicb  Low.  ' 

"THE    STRENGTH   OP   THE   HILLS." 


LET    NOT    MAN 
PUT    ASUNDER 


a  j3oMi 


By 

Basil  King 


"  •'or  It  u  fall!  o«, 
™»  wiMt  w«  hm  w«  jiHie  not  to  tha  »onh, 
WhllM  w.  nior  III  but  belni  Iwk'd  mod  lou, 
Why,  th«n  wt  rack  the  valugi  then  w»  And 
Tl»  •Irtu,,  th.t  poMMloii  would  not  mo.  n. 
WWlw  It  wu  oun.** 

— MiCM  Ado  Aiout  Nonuna. 


New  York  and  London 
Harper  &  Brothers  Publishers 


1902 


^%%m 


C«t9t<gtit- 1901,  by  Harpm  &  BRonms. 

AU  rights  reservtd- 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


CHAPTER  I 
^^AS  Petrina  entered  the  room  she  was  reading  a  let- 

ing  upri  th:"^!L*''°"«'l!  ^f  ^-«"a-  look- 

Pla/at  the  btltlTabt'""''"'  ^"'  "^^  ^-'^  >>- 
Po^ur^/e  cS"  ^''-  ^^--'  -ked,  as  she  began  to 
"  with  ii^Tf  ^  '?"^'  ^"^  Emmy  de  Bohun  " 

"Active  hostiSii  r^m  t^'r'"'"^  ^'''""^  '^^  <="P- 
ment. "  ^^"  *°  ''^  suspended  for  the  mo- 

;;it  is  only  a  truce.  I  presume." 

said^Ea"'ttntt4X/T  ^^°  ^"""^^  P*---" 
Humphrey  hSSS ''        ^°"'^-     "^^^  ^^^  ^^^ 

ing.'^^hl'wasT^awT':';  """'^  "^^  ^°  ^^^^-n- 
life  at  Orpington  ParrST^v^T'^y  ^^  ^l""*  'he 
visits  to  En  Jand  OnSlt  tl?^^"/"'^  ^  °"  ^"'"^ 
at  the  theatfe,  but  on  the  steS'--"  ^'  '^  "''^  ^^«  »°t  only 

3 


Let  Not  Man   Put   Asunder 

"But  I  never  thought  it  would  come  to  this." 

"I  never  thought  it  would  come  to  anything  else  A 
husband  and  wife  who  protest  that  they  don't  love  each 
other  are  going  in  one  sure  direction." 

"  But  it  seemed  in  fun. " 

"  A  sort  of  fun  that  is  likely  to  turn  into  earnest. " 
But  Emmy  was  fond  of  him—" 

"Once,  undoubtedly;  and  he  of  her.  But  the  cares 
of  this  world,  and  the  deceitfulness  of  riches,  and  the 
lusts  of  other  things  entering  in  have  choked  their  love. 
It  has  not  become  precisely  unfruitful,  for  they  have 
three  children.  Emmy  doesn't  say  what  is  to  become 
of  them  in  the  dividing  of  the  inheritance?" 

"Yes,  she  does.  Here  is  what  she  writes:  'I  have 
deferred  this  step,  dear  Petrina,  until  Tristram  should 
be  old  enough  to  go  to  Eton.  That  takes  care  of  him  • 
for  what  with  school  and  college,  and  then  the  army  or 
the  navy  a  boy  has  no  need  of  a  home  after  he  has 
reached  Tristram's  age.  Hippolyta  is  going  to  her 
grandmother.  Of  course  I  shall  miss  her,  but  the  dow- 
ager IS  wild  to  have  her.  Then  she  is  such  a  strange 
girl  I  She  doesn  t  understand  me,  and  now  that  she  is 
seventeen  she  begins  to  act  for  herself  in  a  way  which 
puzzles  me.  The  baby  I  mean  to  keep,  at  least  for  the 
present-that  is,  if  Humphrey  won't  take  him.  He 
threatens  to  do  so,  and,  if  he  insists,  I  shall  let  him  He 
has  already  broken  my  heart.  One  sorrow  more  or  less 
m  such  a  load  as  mine  would  count  for  little.' " 

■l^i*  ^°®*  P^P'^  ^  ^^^y  counts  for  a  good  deal  " 
said  Mrs.  Faneuil,  dryly. 

''Emmy  never  had  much  of  the  maternal  sense." 

tshe  never  had  much  sense  of  any  kind." 

"She  is  certainly  very  clever,  mamma  " 

"Clever?    Yes,  perhaps.     But  cleverness  and  com- 

mon-.ense  are  two  very  different  things,  my  dear  " 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

wifh  tv^^t -Si^-/ '-  ^  -'''-  -<•  --  - 

this'shouRS'nof ;?  "^'"  ^^^  ^"^  =t '«''  "that 
Why  annoying?  and  why  now?"  asked  Mr,  i? 

euH  as  she  tapped  her  egg  with  a  spoon  ""  ^^"■ 

Because/'  said  Petrina    calmlv^'l 

marry  Emmy's  brother  "  ^'      ^  ^  «f°'"S  *" 

'"^pLw" '  '"^"^  •'^^  ^P"""  -"h  a  httle  gasp. 

i-SiS:«or^5e--s-t^s 

whar^you^mefS?  '"  """^  "^"^^  ^^-"^    I«  that 
sonTi^irsXL":^'  '»^'»'»-     ^  -  no  great  rea- 

H.e%^;rto-y-^L^^^^^^^^^^ 

no't'S-?^*"^-  ^"y""""^"  to  say  that  he  has 
'•No,  not  yet;  but  of  course  I  see  it  coming  " 

miZr^T"  "^  '""'■  '^"'*  "  P°^«'"^  y°"  -ay  be 
"Oh,  mamma,  you  talk  as  if  you  never  had  h«„ 

sSoSeTiir  "^  ''^^™""' '  ^^-°*  -<i  th^; 

;'I  had  forgotten  that  you  were  so  astute." 
'.  P  '^"  t  astuteness,  it  is  only  instinct. " 
^Everybody  would  say  you  were  making  a  ve.y  bad 


Let  Not  Man    Put  Asunder 

They  were  in  the  large  bow-fronted  dining-room  at 
or'^^^f  ,  ?'^°''"  "^«™  ^t^«t<=hed  a  wide  S5^ 
of  woodland,  lake,  and  mountain.    As  one  g^^t 

or  of  the  English  lakes;  but  one  knew  that  such  purity 

ll  «;hT^  ^''^^'  "^  '^^'  '"""^  ^^S'»  f««h««««  o^o^es^ 
we  and  andscape  were  essentially  of  New  Hampshire 

th^.  ''°1'',"°* '"  ^^^  "^^^^  Mountains;  it  is  amo^g 
those  numberless,  umiamed  hills  that  ripple  away  from 
Uie  foot  of  Mount  Majestic,  and  form  tLt  corner^ 

V^S.r'tr  *^f  >  •"  ''^'^^"  Massachuse^Tand 
Vennont     When  Petrma  •  grandfather  had  bought  the 

sturdily  trying  to  wnng  a  hvmg  out  of  the  flinty  soil 
But  among  the  New  Hampshire  hills  Mother  Erda  is^b 
one  of  her  capncious  moods.     She  is  ready  to  charn^ 

sTbU"  h-^':  ''u""*^'  ^"*  "°*  *"  ^^'  him  b^read  S™ 
subjects  him  to  her  own  spell,  but  will  not  bend  to  his 

in  J  ^?u  "°*  !^^  '^"""^  **'°«  ^  seek,"  she  seemed 
to  say,  as  the  patient  toi.er,  flung  themselves,  yeS 
after  year,  against  her  pitiless  breast.  "  There  are  olh^ 
l^ds  for  them  to  till.     Let  them  go  elsewherT  lUs 

Z/  ^T.u"^^  i^"^  ""-"^  "P  f""'  the  f°nnless  void 
and  waited  through  centuries  of  calm. " 

Lo,  this  one  is  mine!"  she  might  have  cried  when, 
sixty  years  before  Petrina's  birth,  young  Peter  Faneui" 
ttl^f  17  ^^r^"^  "^^  thicket,  first^came  oufuS 
S  ^  ■"  •""  ^"^y  ^""*  ^^ept  downward  to  the 
S  the'S'^^'  ^'  ^""^  ^'^^  headland  sweeps  tow- 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

"Glorious  GodI"  the  young  man  had  trasnal    V,;. 

shore-hne  and  fnnged  by  the  forest,  lay  sparkSne  S 

Mngly  brokenly,  each  tr-ying  to  climb  higher  tZ^Z 
last,  till,  with  one  mighty  heave    MaiWir  r=.,-.Ij  iT 
g^anUc  shoulder,  woodlli;ghru;%ot^^^^^^^^^^^ 

r„lS'  °  *''/  ^""^  ^"**  *°  *^^  "°rth  the  bilWW  s 
rolled  onward  into  the  horizon -tier  rising  Zyond 
tier,  chain  interlacing  chain,  crest  soaring  Tt^ve  S 
valley  traversing  valley,  and  glen  springing  out  of 
HtT  1  «"^^»^*ere,  held  in  L  folds  olZlgMh 
little  lakes  ghnted  with  the  glimmer  of  silvi    Xe 

rrTn^'^'*''""''''''^^'''^"^""^  their  wa^^hrough 
fo^  and  over  crags  on  their  long  journey  to  the  sS^ 

of  Uiat  view  less  inviolably  pure  '-i  iresnness 

wart    strffd^Tn/^V  1°""^  ^°^*°"  ""^^^hant,  stal- 

there  was  n\         ^  ^""*?"  *°  t**^  ^'^^t's  <^ore;  but 

or  thlro     r ""  T^  "^'^''^  °^^'  *^  that  of  ap  ness 

eyes   diS'"^;^r"-.^^he  stood  with  feasting 

nf  ?=^i       /  ?°^*"'^'  ^""^  ^P«t  exulting  in  the  sieht 
criSoud      fy-\^'^  his  arms  hefvenwa  d  and 

7 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asuhder 

hL7„/   K  «''y'»"al  *onib-she  who  had  hardened 
them  into  beauty,  clothed  then,  with  tree  and  fernl^ 

ddver     Thi,  ^  '         °"'  ^*J^''  '"  ™''"''    This  is  no 

for  bread  and  finH'"*^'*  ^^  '^  "°  '1""««1  "^"^ 
,„^       T  u  *"'^'"»  *  «*°"«-     This  is  my  lover  for 

whom  I  have  waited  and  to  whom  I  will  revLl  myself 
Sunt  fe%r'"''"'''-  ^"--^-nturies  that  manTaS 
count  he  has  come,  and  others  will  follow  in  his  tcX 

So  Peter  Faneuii  bought  the  hill,  the  country  oeonle 
wondenng  why  From  time  to  time  in  aft^lSThe 
found  h,s  way  back 'again  to  the  spot  where  wfhei? 

to  make  hirase  f  a  home  on  this  bold  inland  bluff-  h^ 

The  next  Peter  Faneuii  had  built  the  large  sauar« 
bnck  house  to  which  his  ..cond  wife  had  Xm^h 
of  modem  luxur;-  and  beauty.  This  If^ZLe^t 
days  of  pretty  wooden  cottages  perch^  on  ev^°'^ky 
cai«  or  pleasant  country  knoll.  It  was  beforelheXys 
when  every  prosperous  ciUzen  thought  it  nece^nTte 
have  not  only  a  house  for  work,  but%lso  on^^^ll 

S'n^aneui  mil  ^T'  "'""*,*^  ^'^'^  ''™"d-»- 

£^ni2^,rv?-^SS;^nr 

from  the  summer's  heat  or  as  a  refuge  from  a  Hfe  S 
Ii  was  the  second  Mrs.  Faneuii,  now  at  breakfast 

wllU    "^"i!"^/-  1^°''  ^^*"  ^^  <='°thed  the  barfbrick 
walls  with  climbing  vines  and  reUpv«l  thl  i 

lines  with  balconie!,  bow^wTnd^'I^dvrnTas  "-?;:: 
result  was  a  loss  of  stately  New  Engla^  stpUc]^! 

O 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

change  not  onlyTtasK^^         ""^  **;»'">«  °^  « 

andtheFa„euilsou7oTFra„c?waSn  T'  "'England 
sophisticated  and  self-co^S  t  t""'  ''"*^'"" 
morally  ambitious,  but  se^Wne  iis  ^rfl  —    ^^"  ^"'^ 

or  the  grandfather  who  haTL!?  sto^  utV'ju '*°"'^' 
^hr  stYir  '^^  °^  -^^*  B^i^SaS^  ?^i 

of  "JLror^^rrEXTaf  tad''  ^h"  ^'"=  *°'-^'^'' 
delver  and  the  reaper  had  wne     T^ •  ^"   ^^^^     '^^^ 

«ng  among  -^^  in  la'w^To'^^cT  ^Z  fiT  "^"■ 
the  hving  they  could  not  wrinefr^  fht  m  ^"- 
shire  hills  where  they  w  Je  ^m     T^ "     7  "^!"^ 

clean,  cool  woods,  tKnS' air  JiS'ti"'''"  °^  *^' 
petual  hills.  The  pretty  wSdeL  ^tl  ^"^  P"' 
everywhere  ■  it  Tr»=  ^f  wooden   cottage   was   now 

All  this  was  evident  from  the  semi-open  room  where 
9 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

r^i"?*..?"**  *'"■  »'epn>°'her  sat  at  breakfast.    Their 
I'ttle  table  was  placed  in  a  large  bow-shaped  embrasure 
which  Mrs.  Faneuil  had  so  cleverly  contrived  that  all 
the  lower  part  of  the  great  window  could  be  lifted  up- 
ward   In  fine  weather  they  could  thus  breakfast  and 
lunch  in  the  open  air.    A  larger  table  held  the  centre 
of  the  room;  and  the  walls  were  hung  with  fine  old 
prints,   brought  back  by  Petrina's  grandfather  and 
great-grandfather  from  their  European  travels  in  the 
days  when  photographs  were  unknown.     The  table 
was  spread  with  silver  of  the  Georgian  era,  each  piece 
en^aved  with  the  Faneuil  arms.     The  porcelain  was 
of  Sevres,  part  of  the  service  presented  to  one  of  the 
Peter   Faneuils   whert   minister  to  France.      In  any 
other  house  these  things  would  have  been  kept  in  cab- 
inets  as    objects   of   beauty;    but   Petrina   would  be 
served  only  from  the  best.     She  would  rather  have 
them  broken  than  not  used,  she  said,  with  the  reck- 
lessness of  a  young  princess  who  has  not  yet  learned 
to  economize  her  lieritage. 

Mrs.  Faneuil,  in  her  capacity  of  stepmother,  had 
made  it  a  point,  since  Petrina's  majority,  to  leave  the 
giri  as  free  as  possible.  "It  was  the  secret  of  getting 
on  with  her,"  she  said,  and  she  was  right. 

"You  must  not  think  that  I  am  opposed  to  your 
choice,"  she  said,  after  a  long  pause,  "  but  you  wiU  own 
that  it  is  unexpected." 

"  The  merely  expected  in  one's  selection  of  a  husband 
would  be  rather  dull,"  said  Petrina,  as  she  sipped  her 
coffee. 

"That  is  just  what  strikes  me  about  Mr.  Vassall." 
"I  find  it  one  of  his  attractions.     You  may  think 
him  dull.     I  call  him  only  unobtrusive.     I  should  hate 
a  man  who  was  always  putting  himself  in  the  fore- 
ground." 

10 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

'I  You  reserve  that  field  for  yourself  " 
„''*<*"''*  naturally  want  my  proper  place." 
Which  would  be  in  front,  I  presume." 
Hike  your  sarcasm,  mother  dear.     It  h    os  one  to 
«ee  the  weak  joints  in  one's  harness.    But  I  dra't^w? 
you  to  think  me  wholly  selfish  "  """«»»  w«nt 

"  ^°\  "[  ~""^  n°''    Only  independent. " 
idew."'^  ''"'•  "^  *""•  "'«=  "^'^•''ding  to  my  own 

"M  *"  "Ja^'age  as  much  as  before?" 
freer-'^  *""  '^'°'*-    ^  """"^"^  '^°'"«»  "  «°  niuch 

fn^oif  *''*•     '^''"  ^'  ^^^^"  ''''^"'*  «M°*  »«  ""Ch 
^^"."i'^^^ed  her  pretty  shoulders. 

"vJil      '^  Ages,"  said   Mrs.    Faneuil,   promptly 

arl^ser  IT  T^*  ^L"  ''°""«  ^^P'"  "unk-that  Vu 
are  wiser  than  the  aged,  and  have  more  understanding 
than  your  teachers.  You  talk  as  if  love  and  maJrile! 
were  unknown  things  when  you  discoveS^^L 

Don  t  begin  playmg  with  fire,  Petrina,  my  child;  dor? 
m^e  rash  experiments  with  gunpowder  " 
"  T    u  7.""r\"H''  y""  metaphors,  mamma. " 
I  shall  if  I  please.     Mixed  metaphors  are  less  dan 
gerous  than  mixed  ideas  on  grave  subjects" 

But  who  thinks  of  danger?    I  don't  see  whv  ♦»,« 
question  should  be  raised."  ^  *'' 

"It  raises  itself,  my  dear.     Even  with  the  most  un- 
obtrusive ;nan  there  are  moments  when  he  muTt^  Z 

Sre^Jom-'""  *'°"'^^°"-'  """^  '''^  ^»  y°«'  ^hL^^ 
"I  have  no  theories.     In  what  I  do  I  should  never 
want  to  involve  any  one  but  myself. " 
II 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

You  would  involve  your  husband,  however." 
_,  >^«'urally;  but  that  wo-V  be  hi,  raisond'ttr,  " 
poir.t  of  ^Te^  **'•  ^"-"  «-  "^"«-  '--  -other 
"One  drives  one's  steed  according  to  his  temner  but 

or'ste^;:,^-''  '^'"  ^"'°  '"•  ^"^  •"  which'^iri' 

w.th  you  and  smash  the  coach.     What  then?"  ^ 

one  sc;ai  .^''""f  1°"^^"*''  "'^  °"''  »  n°t  dead 
one  scrambles  to  one's  feet  again,  and  begins  retro 
spectively  to  enjoy  th?  excitement. " 
You  are  incorrigible." 
"  >To,  only  frank.     But,  to  chance  the  subject  slicrht- 
ly,  may  I  ask  ,f  you  had  any  other\iews  for  mlXl 

"I?    Jamais  de  la  vie.     I  should  never  venture  to 

"Or  hopes,  then?" 
"Hopes,  perhaps." 
"And  may  I  inquire— who?" 

linSrat'^Lrs."""  '""^  '"^^  '"'^  ^'  ^'-^^  Wal. 
''But  I  always  told  you  it  was  out  of  the  question. " 

.  Xfl'x^T.-  Still  I  have  never  been  above  tWnk 
.ng  that  Lady  Wallingford  had  a  good  deaKnortv 
iIL^Ta  °^^'l°^hood  it  would  bl  Petrina  Lady  £ 
hngford,  which  seems  to  suit  your  style.  Th«.  it  riv«. 
me  a  chance,  as  mother-in-law  to  a  title  whS  L^nU 

always  secretly  envied  Mrs.  Va.ssall   her  dignity  Is 

Sits  ;L^''^'^  "^  ^°*'""-  «"*  -y  '^-p-  -  au 

12 


Let  Not  Man   Put  A.under 
Jit,!!?"""  '*°«''"'-  '"'  •'•'™  l»»k«l  «ri«,. 

™ni-  J":"i£tt  ft*  ,£"»  "-»s 

13 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 


But,  of  course,  you 
His  religion 


that  Mr.  Vassall  is  very  religious, 
might  break  him  of  that." 

"I  am  not  sure  that  I  should  want  to 
seems  to  be  part  of  him." 

"That  is,  perhaps,  true.     And  then  religion  is  so 
tolerated  now     Professor  Pembury  told  me  the  other 
day  that  at  Harvard  it  didn't  count  against  a  man 
even  in  the  best  and  most  intellectual  sets.     I  should 

Ws  chwch-^'  "  ^''  '^"^^^  *"^'^*"'  °"  y°"'  «°'"K  *° 

"I  did  go  once." 

"And—?" 

"I  was  rather  touched.    It  was  last  spring,  when  I 
first  began  to  know  him." 

"  Did  he  ask  you  to  go?" 

"No,  but  he  seemed  pleased  when  I  told  him  I  had 
gone. 

"What  a  curious  caprice  on  your  parti" 
"I  wanted  to  get  the  range  of  his  ideas.     We  had 
t'lked  about  a  lot  of  other  things,  in  which  I  could  un- 
derstand him.     But  here  I  seemed  to  be  outside.     In 

"  A   f  °"      *^^  *"  ^  ^■""■'•^ '°  "^^^^  I  had  no  key  " 
And  so  finding  the  door  open  you  went  in  " 
I  looked  in  only.     I  was  within  the  church,  but  out- 
side the  ideas."  ,"UIUUI 

"  Yet  you  say  you  were  touched?" 

"Less  by  the  religion  than  by  his  part  in  it  He 
seemed  so  simple  and  honest.  One  felt  the  presence 
of  something  not  only  sincere  in  his  behef  but  fearless 
in  his  attitude  towards  the  world." 

"What  a  strange  girl  you  are,  Petrina!  There  are 
Umes  when  -ou  seem  to  be  so  independent;  and  then 
suddenly  you  lapse  into  the  conventional;  I  hesitate  to 
say  the  commonplace." 

"Say  it,  if  you  like,  mamma.  For  me  nothing  is 
14 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

w  JlSfarer  ™^"^'     """"'"^  "  "^  ««--*  to  ask 

woufd  ""L'LT  -y  °-  ^'«e  but  you,  the  declaration 

•'Odious,"  said  Petrina.     " I  know  " 

1  was  going  to  say  selfish  " 
"L^"^  ""^  adjective  is  the  better  one  " 

aelhsh  or  odious  as  you  will,  you  have  thp  art  „f 

on?  rkS  SiT  *°  '^  ^°"^^*^'^'-  ^  ^»  «*™SgHn^ 
"And  yet  with  this  as  your  object  vou  thJnt  „f 

>ng  a  man  like  Henrv  Vassall ''  °^  "^"y* 

''I  think  only  of  marrying  the  man  I  love  " 

worJ  wo"u^cor.^""  •     '  "^^  """'•-"^  whether  the 
of  martagl"^''  '""'  '^"''  °*^"^'-  ^  should  not  think 
"Then  how  do  you  propose  to  keep  so  free?" 

invot  S  SSr^iSl^ilr  '°^^'^^^''  ''*- 
inine  with  hjs."  "'^  ''^^'  «"y  ""o'e  than 

J^hn'l  that  ,  s«m,»h.t  origi,.|  vie,  „f  ,h.  .it„- 

15 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

1  UKe  the  situation  best  a<i  it  io     it 

own  mother,  I  should  fS  obliLJltn'^T  """'^  "^ 
thines  in  wA.Vh  J;  "Wiged  to  yield  m  many 

Xf     As  U  L  r  ^'^  "°*.  T''^  i'^dependent  of  the 

bot^  free  "  '  ''"  ^'^  ^"^  ^"^"'l^'  ^«d  yet  we  are 

Mr^^LTur"*''  '^"'^'  "'^•^'^  "-  ^«>  broken  by 

afte™?"''"  ^'  "^^  ^^^^'  --  --ng  to  tea  this 

thatlfe  inJ^hl'^Ll  '  H^V""  'f^  "!f^*-    ^  ^^^^  ^i- 

I  said  he3iX  briS"  "  '     "'  "**  ^'  "'^°» 
''Who?"  ^' 

','£^-  Lechmere.     One  of  the  Brookline  familv  " 
The  only  Brookline  Lechmere  nowfs  Kck^  "^^ 
abrI5"'llh?4"'"^-    "^  ^°"  '-^  »^-^    He  lives 
other"  "^^  '  ^°°^  ''^  "^  Wm  at  one  time  and  an- 
Is'hfnfce'r^^"'  '"^""^  °^  "^"-y'^-     What  is  he  like? 
sa;?!!i;''^yf£f '-?->  ^f  -'y-'^-  shall  I 

like  a  vlnScla^/r^'^^'r ''""'■.  "^ '""^s 
ascribe  to  him  aU  thf  •;  ^""^ ,7°"  ^ght  easily 
loved,  as  weir  as  all  thl'  "'17*'''='^  *^  ^"yalist 
hated."  '   *^^  weaknesses   the  Puritans 

i6 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
;; That  sounds  rather  interesting." 

dangerous-I  me^n  i^fh.     ^"^""^.^^iP  ™ght  be  rather 

gerous  to  tr^^eTZZnt^Tlln^  J^^^^,""  '^^ 
no  maps  and  no  Puirli».Jw^i,o      u       ,?      ""^"  '"^"'e  are 

spoui  vo,caLra"n^£rXtL"?^^.°^ 

X^nt^^lkTf-d  f^?"^  r  -tund^f  "nS: 
him  I  n^^  could  h^  ^  '  "'''"^">-    ^hen  I  knel 

apostate  Ilint  or  a  Ta2nh!«'"'  ^'?^*^'  '^^  ^««  ^n 
tion."  ^  Tannhafiser  seeking  for  redemfv 

-"5^"^.^y^  ^^  married  badly." 
Ves— that  Madame  Felicia  de  Prnr,^      t. 
such  a  fiasco  at  the  opera  in  New  ?^^k  I '"'?''  ^^' 

had  gone  off  teniblv,  tTough  she  ISZt'  ^''-  ''■"''^ 
pretty.    She  has  one  of  thffe  nur.  f  ^^V^^^itely 

deceive  the  veiy  elect     WhZV      l^"^^  ^'"'^^  ^""Id 
her  escapade^ir^e  D^l'Cnes""  f  ""'Tt  'A'^' 

s;eS^:;:^--w,ir^--ch.ck 

^^:^inn^srst^ttttr- 
jr.:  :™'id*^"H:rio;ri^r"  r*^.^-  ^^  °^ 

ments  something  of  almost  feHn/     '  *?  .^"^  "°^'^ 

phasizedbyherfoft,tSngrobe      ^'■"^^^"'"^««'  -«- 

Mrs.  Faneuil,  still  seated  at  the"  table,  took  up  again 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Mount  MaiesticTouT]«?t  g  seT  *'  "'^'^  ^"^^  "^ 
i  wonder  if  any  one  will  ever  know?" 


CHAPTER  II 
Later  in  the  day  Mr   rKrk  t  ^\ 

But  there  was  aSv'^^     ;.?"'*  ''°"'=  "'^  ^""^  *ings. 
sation.    There  was  a  Lr7^'"^  T"""  '"  *«^  <=°nver- 

the  IS'thra"nd'  S^heShtTo^  '"""'  ""^^  ^^^''^ 
Has  ^ept ,..  .X'^T,!-  -nenc.  ^  His  ^,.„, 

4%^*  ^'Shalrf  et/Cot^  "-'-^-^  ^^'  -^^^ 
fac^wattreat!:^^  ^-^^-'f^ed  that  her 
b;U;t^.ed.s^.presSj„^rS;nr=r^ 

however,  he  felt  hi^sdf  rh^t"?"".^*  ''^^*-     Here, 
19 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
features    and  the  rich,  ivory  tint  of  the  comnlexion 

^~-    ^o;  rather  she  is  Afda  "  ""i  v-ieo- 

"N«%Tr!°"i°^  travelling,  then?" 
I  mu'I^'i'vfoa"   ^"*  ^  ^"^  ^  ™°''-"  ^--^-ng  Jew. 
Isn't  that  rather  dreary?" 

be2%aX:.d^"  "^"  "'"^"  ^'-^^  P---  to  be 
"And  on  arrival  you  find  it ?" 

agZ''"''  '"'  *^"  *^'  '^  -  ---n  for  moving  on 

"And  yet  your  Brookline  place  is  so  beautiful,  they 

20  ■' 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
teU  me     If  you  were  to  settle  down  there  for  a  Httle 
St  bestr*  ^°"  "^"'^  "^^  •"  *«  ^'  y-  -"e 
"One  grows  like  the  man  in  Kipling's  poem- 

'"I  must  go,  go,  go  away  from  here. 

On  the  other  side  the  world  I'm  overdue.' 

117"^  ^  ^^^^  '"  Brookline,  and  Kve  at  the  Meer- 
stcad,  some  reason  would  arise  for  starting  off  J^L 

caS"*^"*^  ''**'"''  *'"•     ^°"  ''°"''  «•=*  °n  ««« 
enmSf"''   "'^'"    circumstances   caprice   is    reason 

Petrina  laughed. 

"I  hke  that  "  .she  said.    "It  requires  so  much  cour- 
age to  say  it,  here  in  New  England!" 

"And  yet  to  me  it  is  only  one  manifestation  of  the 
New  England  spirit.     For  isn't  caprice  often  an  out! 
let  for  intensity?    And  isn't  intensity  the  distinguX 
mg  quahty    hat  marks  the  true  New-EnSandfr  ou 
from  among  the  rest  of  men?"  S'<»naer  out 

Lechmere's  voice  was  deep,  soft,  and  very  pleasant 

withotXt"^-  "^  ^'"•'^  ^'"^°"*  -*---'  »>"! 

"o?tW  1°^  n^  *™^  New-Englanders,"  he  went  on, 

of  Aose  who,  like  you  and  me,  inherit  the  blood  which 

founded  Plymouh,  Salem,  and  Boston.     What  stamps 

^hem^"n  tTheT""''  '"^  *.^  "^^  ^  which  we  hoM 
do  *;m.''  ^^'  ""'  '^°'  ''"*  ^^'  ^^y  ■"  ^'Wch  we 

n(Z°J^  ^Tt^""^  "^  ^"^*^"  inheritance  is  not  one 
of  creed,  but  of  temperament  " 

"Precisely.    You  don't  believe  as  your  ancestors 

21 


L"  Not  Man  P„,  A.onder 

and  I  are  no  lon«r  vlXJ  ^""'■jdeals  out.  You 
questions  of  Chufch  7^e^°Z"t!^'"'  »""'«'  ^^ 
them  about  son.etlung^i::^"^^"*'''"*  ^  *^?,  ^««n« 

'•Thin^^Ta"  ;rnitnh?r'""^i-«^«^' 

tensity  is  the  quality  which  hLf       ^"^  '^tensity.     In- 
all  our  joys  and  so^^w^*';^^°'^'=^"y  other,  pervades 

hidden;  it  may  beXprHAwl"'"^  "^  ^"^'«'-  ''  "^y  be 
fied  calm;  but^tTs  aWsZ"  „"  ^"  •^*^"°'  °^  I^W- 
>n  the  conscience,  in  Ae  £!'*  ^""■"'^  *"  *^  '^'^t, 
or  to  evil  as  the  case  mav  hL  if  * '  J"^P'""g  "«  to  good 
W  ^e  go  righTwe  doTLwv  f  ^'''^y'  '•"^"«  ««  »"• 
if  urged  toft  by  :Corfir?'i  '^  "^  «°  --"g,  it  is  as 

as  you'dor"'  """^  «°'"«  ^"""^  «"d  'ound  the  world 

"iHs  ifeiTp^^^^}  5!'P  "'';  Lechmerc  laughed, 
bred  into  the  blCwhich  ^X'^  ^^'  «>methi„|  was 
should  take  thiS  Suv  T  w  "  "»P°^«ible  that  we 
on  our  hves."  ^'  ""^  '^'  ""^  trials  sit  lighUy 

"&  Kr'"  "^P""^  •'^'=°™««  a  passion  " 

of  fiS^wl^^irCXiTere'"  ^^!,  ^^  ^^  ^^^P^ 
his  office,  as  though  t^^e  wf  ^^^^y/^^y  doggedly  to 

ure,  send  me  from  laS  [o  rnd  T,"T^  "^"^  «^  P''^^^ 
though  there  were  no  such  th'  ^  ^'°'"  ^^  '°  ^-  as 
you  feel  that?"  ^'^  *'"«  as  rest.     I  wonder  if 

lai!"„:tilS'"£.''^''^  ^^"-  -"^  «  %bt 
22 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

JllT  ,^°"'V''«'»' t°  show  your  hand."  aaid  Lech- 
mere,  feehng  checked  again. 

"I  have  none.    The  cards  have  not  yet  been  dealt 
.:  „  ,  *^'''  *^*"  **  twenty-three  as  I  am-" 
Holds  the  pack  and  has  the  deal  " 

upiri^^ttt"  '•^"'^  "•""  **  '="^'  "^'^  "^^  -' 

"And  the  cutter  "  aaid  Lechmere,  a  little  bitterly, 
•  ^,!P«nd8  "Pon  nothing  but  the  blindest  chance    Tha 

aU  the  trumps  and  know  nothing  of  it  till  the  hand  is 

"So  that  your  advice  would  be—?" 
"  To  keep  out  of  the  game. " 
"And  yet  you  haven't  done  so." 
"I  have  played  and— lost." 
"  You  haven't  the  air  of  the  vanquished  " 
"It  IS  the  poor  devil  that  goes  humming  and  smiHne 
away  from  the  salles^jeu  who  shoots  himself  behind 
the  first  clump  of  cactus. "  "=u"ia 

"But  he  has  had  the  excitement,"  said  Petrina  with 
s  ce-tain  lifting  of  the  head.  reinna,  with 

"That  is  her  first  confession,"  Lechmere  thought. 

Do  you  say  that?"  he  asked  aloud.     "  I  had  begun  to 
thmk— but  perhaps  I  ought  not  to  say  it  " 

"  By  all  means.    I  .shall  not  be  offended. " 
I  had  begun  to  think  that  you  were  one  of  'hose 
Iffudent  modern  women  who  will  not  risk  the  stakes 
they  hold  for  fear  of  losing  them. " 

"They  keep  out  of  the  game.  I  understand  that  to 
be  your  counsel." 

"A  counsel  given  in  haste,  but  not  to  be  taken  at 
leisure.  In  knocking  about  the  world  I  see  so  many  of 
my  countrywomen  who  will  not  risk  income  and  inde- 
pendence for  higher  joys. " 

23 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

was  provocaUve  •      Lechmere'a  tone 

bei^or  ioTuSe^:^^^  ''^i'  •>"'  «^^  What  i, 
the  sense  that  civilization  h!^..  ^*"«^«  quite  lose 
badly.  After  nineVeJn  centuries  o^Th"^  IL'  *""'=**'«' 
a«  not  yet  quite  sure  whethfr  I  *'  """^^  "■*  ^e 
superiors,  or  equals  a^dwh-  T  "''  ""'"'«  '"^erio"- 
take,  son,eoneTr«.dv"o'laih  °T  P°'"'  °^  "^^  ^e 
"So  that  safety  Ues  ,1  1,  ^•''  ""  '°  '^°™" 

" In  H-    ^   ^°  '^°"  •"  inevitable?" 
way'?'  '"^"'-'^'-^  -'«  -«  and  sUll  «oin.  on  one's 

men^rSr  ""^"^  ^P  *°  ^''''^  «nd  the  drowning 

isin'Ja"n^:;lli?L^:S„\*-^^',    When  a  won^ 
"Is  that  why  w^menl^e  ^„J^"  ^°  *°  ^^«  »>«^W" 
.    "Our  mothers  and  our  Lra^Z"f?  '°  f  f-centred?" 
•ng  of  timidity.     They  commffT^  I'"  ^^^  ^"  *e  dar- 
question  or  condition  to  (^■^"'f  themselves  without 
confidence  was  soZt^ustiZ°l^f' ^"^ '^'^-   ^^^ 
into  others'  keemn^  wnJ      *    f  ^^  "hat  they  gave 
their  own.     'They  fiL  °!^?  ^'^^^  P'^^»  to  res^  [^ 
"U  men  werSf  l^ous ^f ''  *''""  protection." 
th  ng  as  progress.     ProSessTAh/'^u  "^  ^  "°  «"* 

"I'ouhtiess.  But  the^r„L?h\f£,°^trr^;;, 

^4 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
the  hare  while  the  man  has  hunted  with  the  hounds 

vJ^rJ:,°'  '"'k"«''  '^"'^'"''  "^'  "he  should  have  £ 
veloped  an  abnormal  scent  for  danwr  " 

"Which—?"  *    ■ 

chalSi'o^d'efi'ir^  "*'  '^"«  °'  *"^^'y  ^y  *e 

"And  the  denial  of  duty." 

"Yes,  to  some  extent.  Duty  is  one  of  the  most  mis- 
used words  in  the  language.  It  is  generally  emnlo?^ 
so  as  to  mean  what  other  people  thinl  we  oughTto  do^ 

Th.v^«  ^P'-  ^''  ?"!» ''^"er  judges  than  ourselves 
1  hey  are  more  impartial.  '  "^vea. 

"But  less  well-informed." 

"It  is  the  looker-on  who  sees  most  of  the  game." 

;.  J         .".u  A'^^^y*  *^^  '■^«*«"'«  ^or  the  play     One 
judges  of  that  for  one's  self. "  ^ 

"One  must  go  according  to  Hoyle  " 

nln^H** ,'".  ""^^^  ^  "u''''^*  '"■    ^  ^'n  "°t  in  this  world  to 
play  Hoyle's  game,  but  my  own. " 

''  But  if  you  lose  the  tricks?" 
"  I  maintain  my  individuality. " 
''That  is  likely  to  be  hard  on  your  partner." 
Petrina.^   "^^  ""^*  ^^^  ^'^  °^  himself,"  laughtd 

wil'h^^!  r^'^-','  u"f  ^^'^"'  ^^°'  sauntering  up 
with  Mrs.  Faneuil  had  caught  the  last  few  sentences- 

ofZno?^''''  "°""  *=""  ^''  "^^  ^^^"^  feminineLLe 

"And  you?" 

Petrina  fla.shed  on  him  a  look  of  interest.     It  was 
clear  that  she  cared  to  know  his  point  of  view! 

1  am  too  wary  to  risk  an  opinion,"  said  Vassall 
offenng  her  a  great  sheaf  of  golde„-r;d  and  Mkhael- 
mas^d^sies.     "I  let  this  act  and  these  emblems  sS 

as 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
"If  r^ijJT""  '•'  ••  "eainst  us,"  Mrs.  Fan.uil  cried 
t„er  "  *'  ''^'^'"'  '°  P^v*  Wmself  a  flat- 

tack  in  he.  Ions  chair,  lrtli™1^„  JS"...h?^',  '" 

forehead.    Ih'e    ^l^T  ^a/g  JJ^^^^ 'evt  T  """* 
whjch  did  not  conceal  the  mobile,  rather*  ^ns^^^'^^! 

has  tSe  Stua^X^ty  Uae  St^L"'  "  ^'T"-    "'^ 
the  Stuart  haplesfn^M'"  '  **""'  ^'^  I^^ly 

she  looked  over  at  the  man  nfh^  u  •  /  '•"°'  *» 
Mrs.  Fane«il  in  the  gr^s  ^  ^I,  Tu  ''*1?^,'"«  ^^ 
that  she  could  reld  *h^ 'eSflv  Hrf  k'^^'^^'=^°"' 
in  Cairo,  Constantinople  orStP.t^K  *^  u"''*  *^"' 
have  known  him  to  be  of  thif  ■^'?'"?  ^^"^  ^°"''* 

type  which  is  brought  fori  bv  New  T'  Anglo-Saxon 
^Harvard,  and  Lehb^  stm'S  ^1^  S 
a^nrh^tn^gtS^aft^-"^^^^^^ 

importance;  burfheTked  to  nh'  "^*=T'^"'^'^^  "^  "° 
r~  oui  sne  likedto  observe  his  intellectual 

26 


I 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
forehead,  his  thoughtful  eves    hi.  .»,=.-,Ui 

work,  anHot  totead  Q^fZT'  '^""'^  '°  ««ht  and 
That  was  not  quhc  wlSt  STL^'^.S?  V  «»«"'«"«• 
would  have  had  ess  i^tL«f  •  "«'"?'  *'"'  ">««  "''«' 
already  perfect  in  fhl  ^'*.  '"  ^"'^'"8  «  husband 

toin,p;:rSri^taxrt'T  i"  '"•'^''"- 

riage  was  to  take  a  man  m^T  ,  ^**  P,'""  '"  ">«"•- 
mould  him.  She  kn^/hTv  °'  fu  ""^"^ed,  and 
which  she  did  not  ^re-  ^  l^'^^^  u^*^  P"'''""''  f°' 
the  improvement  of  muniri^i'!-."'""''  °"'^"P'«1  ^^'h 
^vith  p?Ln  r2l^'  a7ovTtLri'orid.'"h''"""^'  ""'' 
iirticles  and  attended  Vnnf!-,  °^'   ^^  even  wrote 

fashionable  sStsteltrl'J^'  '"•  *''^*'  ^^"-^  "•'■ 
no  positive  objilSon  toThlrb^  s'^?"''^.  •.  '='''*  ''«•' 
«ary  to  the  ends  she  had  n  view  Sh/X  n'i"""*;^^" 
as  other  people  did      Ha,,!  °  "°*  '^e  •>"" 

rising  lawyer    o?«,  »       ^"^  appeared  to  her  as  a 

take'a  wXplace  in  pubKr  V"°"  "^  ™«»>' 
looking,  well-bred,  hoS  you"  ^n  ^ho"  h^/  """ 
how  managed  to  touch  her  wf         '  ^^°  ^'^  """'^ 

name  and  picturesnnp  TX^  T  f  u    .     °"^  decorative 

name,  and  snenH  fho  c„       "i  ^  '™  Faneuil 

prince.onsort'^rL'':JlSar^'  ''''  ^^''^  ^ 
27 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

rai^^'^rV^'T^^^'^^^^  °^  ^^^^^"  ^«  the  last  of  her 
as  therlhaH  h  ''T  ^'^''  ^^"^"'J^  «J™o«t  as  long 
tLuT  '^^^^^"^  Amencan  history.     When    at  h^ 

stood  m  the  extreme  outer  circle  of  W  IJ^  ^^ 

Iv  exnprt;.,^  ♦    u    j"  .-        .  *^  °'  "^"^  admirers,  scarce- 
ly expectmg  to  be  distmguished  in  the  crowd     TW 

tial,  but  detached;  friendI;^bi^'^c^^i-:r   H^^:^" 
28 


Let  Not   Man   Pu^    Asunder 

ni^ltJi^  T::^^^^-^^  ^^-  that  neithe. 

by  he  loosed  the  t:uTZ  hSlf^l  ^"""^  "^"* 
and  was  welcomed-  he  r^^A  ""^^"'  "^  came  nearer 
disdained.  ^W  he'was  i^  1?^  '°"''*  ^""^  ^^«  not 
for  love  where  his  rivals  wit  uTl  ''^^"  '"  ^^'  ^«« 
goal  was  well  in  sigh?  thou:h  the  "'  '''"''  ^"^  ^^^^ 
won.     He  was   in  short    iw     i.      T""*  «'««  "o*  yet 

had  placed  him/Ld  wL  el^  had     ''""]^'^  '^^^^^^^ 
that  he  should  be.  ^^  '°^^"'  ^"r  months 


»      ■ll 


y 


CHAPTER  III 

filling  his  pi^  ^  ^™'"  *»''  '■°°"''  ^here  he  was 

"Why  so?"  Vassall  asked,  absently 

jestic.     ffifhabovlhTs  "T  f '"^  ''"^'"''  ^0""!  Ma^ 
ed  valley/f  w  iS'^S^'"^  "^  ^^1^  ?"d  -cross  a  wood- 

had  tabulated  them         ^       **'"  "^'^'^^^  '»  ^^ich  he 

hirt:oSte%g:r  ''sKsi^^  -■"'  p--n^ 

the  pagan  lack  of  prindJe  Ih^ l^u"'^"  '^'  ^"^ 
New-Englander,  at  once  strait^  and'.  =°^™°P«!"an 
al.     She  has  in  her  aUihT.iT      ««<!  unconvention- 

30 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
^^P'^^lt^ti-:^  ^-  on  .He  Balcon,  to 
P^o&rt„7Sotr '^^^  -  ^-'  ^echn..  had 

catiu^p.:'4rNo7ls:rthe'^e''^^'^  '^^  -3^  the 
the-way  journey  into  the  ll*       ^°"  ^""^  '^i^  0"tK.f- 

to  find  Brunhilde  on  the  Ml  nf  fi      ""^^'^  ^'^^  thick^ 

-e^,  though.  s..:i:^-i^j^^s^ 

■ng  «oon.  The  lighf^:bove  The  '"'  ""'^'^«'  ^^e  £ 
the  valley  below  seem  very  darl  Tr"'^l"  '"^'^^  all 
Now  and  then  slight  souL«  7^^  "'^^t  was  still 

and  from  far  away  near  "he  uT  ^'^"^  '"  ^^e  forest 
lonely  laughter  of  a  Wn  ^^''  '^""^  ">«  »aniacai; 

Vou  wouldn't  exnpr*  ^^  * 

tiecause,"  said  1  prh 

31 


fl 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

wroSy-'-' ''  """■''  '"'■'  ''"'' ''"  ^'  ^  '^"  P'"^*^  y°" 
nJ?™"^/'  yourself  Let  u  be  A'  or  M.  then,  as  you 
please,  so  long  as  I  deliver  my  soul." 

"Let  hiin  now  speak,  or  else  hereafter  forever  hold 
nis  peace. 

"I  see  you  have  been  studying  the  marriage  service 
You  will  renieraber,  then,  that  immediately  before  the 
words  you  have  quoted  there  is  a  charge  requirirVg 
any  man  who  can  show  just  cause  why  A^  and  M 
may  not  be  lawfully  joined  together  to  declare  it  " 

Jl  remt-mber  that  there  is  something  of  the  sort." 
ih.  •      "^  "  ^vould  be  no  true  friend  who  failed  to  show 
the  impednnent  before  things  had  gone  too  far?" 

„  Jdon  t  see  what  jou  are  driving  at,  but  go  on." 
Therefore  I  stand  here  on  this  balcony,  this  lovely 
New  Hampshire  night,  and  forbid  the  bannk    That  is 

forWd'"    '     '"''         **''*"  "^'"^'  ^"'^  °''''^'  '""^^^  t'^^" 

"On  what  ground?" 

"On  the  ground  that  any  man  is  mad  who  of  his  own 
voluntary  act  gives  himself  away  in  mind,  body.Tn" 
come,  liberty,  and  sometimes  in  very  soul  " 

Inr"  W?  y°";;  °^J^'^"<'"  i«  n°t  to  my  banns  in  particu- 
lar, but  to  all  banns  m  general?" 

"To  yours  in  particular,  because  they  are  yours  I 
don  t  want  to  see  my  old  friend  run  his  head  into  a  hal- 

de«r"  °l  I^"*^  ^f""  "^"'^^  ""^^'^  without  a  goi 
deal  of  choking.  I've  gone  through  that  myself  vou 
know.   I  should  like  to  keep  you  out  of  it  "  ^ 

Vassall  stirred   uneasily.     In  the  three  months  in 

which  Lechmere  and  he  had  passed  most  of  their  leis 

ure  time  together  no  reference  had  ever  been   r^adi  to 

hat  marriage  and  divorce  whose  details  had  been  riven 

m  the  press  of  two  continents.     Vassall  had  stuSlJ 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

cause  he  feared  beSnZcrcf[T  f  ^«'-^-a"  b  ' 
tHou^ht  .as  a.ead/hacSrSKor:irhrhtd 

So  they  smoked   on  silenllv      Th„ 
higher  m  the  sky,  hshUn^uTiu        ,,  "'°°"  mounted 
The  laughter  ceJsed  fro  "\?  ^'  "'^""^'^  "^  'he  forest. 
«oon  the  whole  house  sank^tT'Tr^'  °^  '*>•= '""'  ^nd 
onFaneuil  Hill  went  out  '"''"''^-      ^he  lights 

"It  IS  growing  late,"  said  Vassall   „,     •       r 
Perd,  on  the  balustrade.     "I  thbk    'in  """"^   f"'"  '^'^ 

"Don't  go  vet  "  saiH  T     I  "  ^^^  '"• 

night  for  lep     'Be7desT^"''!f     "  ^^  '«  too  lovely  a 
Vassall  safd  nothlg  '  buT  H  M  T"  °"  ^  ""'«  bit. '' 
and  refilled  his  glass^'  ^''^"^  ^""^^'^  "garette 

"Vo™Vlef.?eS'vo"'''T"  ^^•^•^--'^  --t  on 
'Physician,  heal  th/self."'"  ^"^  ^''  "'^^'^^  ^^y- 

youL,xrSoSsi;tLlff  "^K'^'y  ''-•"- 

"I've  often  wondered  sfn^  ^?""'\'''^" '"^ '"i"'^- " 
about  together,  what  you'veThouTht'lf'"",!^"'"'^'"^ 
the  past  three  years  "  ''"'"ght  of  my  hfe  during 

thaU^n  XTou  """"^^  '*'  ""^  ™-'  I  -^-'t  know 

criSm  is^hTlTnt"";'   tb"""'..''"?  "°*  --  *hat 

"I'm  not  much  g?od  at  th^      Co   "^"■''  '^°""^'^'" 
so  cheap-"  ^  **^'-     Counsel  is  generally 

brace  me  up,  and  I  don't  k^nol  Xl^Slt  ZlT^/ifi 
33 


Let  Not  Man   Put   Asunder 

hadlhe  r' p"  ,  "^  r^  "°*  unsympathetic  Lt"^" 

*hl7°l!'''  '''^'i^'  •*^'"''  **''=^'  D'<^k,  before  you  speak  of 
that     he  said  with  constraint.     "You  will  perCrl 

"-yr^To?' '  ^°"  -"^^  --  to-ni.ht'-^^^'^^''^ 

"Yes  ^°s«1^' V  ""  "?,^  ^'f'^"  ^^  ^'^<  abruptly. 
reluctlrJce  ^''^"'  ""'"""^  °»  *»>«  subject"^  with 

"Where'?" 

York-  .nT^u  ^''u'^^'^'  ^*   ''^^  Metropolitan  in   New 

"  What  did  you  think  of  her?" 

"I  thought  she  sang  well  " 

"Is  that  all?" 

"I  thought  her  pretty." 

',  2^  <=°"''se-    But  is  that  all  ?" 

I  don°t  see  wh  J  ^"''''  '""^  ^°^  '°  ^^P'^^«  th«  -est. 
to  me  extrri^.^  ^  u^'  questioning  me.  She  seemed 
ought  to  say"''^  charmmg- extremely  seductive,   I 

<,«' wu"!!  '^^/"'f^  y°»  t*>at  a  man  could  more  easily 

about  £?^  "^^  '^^^^  '^^'^  ^"^  ^"'^h  feeling 

34 


Let  Not  Man   P 


"In  what  rdles  have 
■Several    ' 


"t    Asund 


er 


you  seen  her?" 


"As  Marguerite." 
Never  as  Aida?" 

the  '^^r^S^„y!:^^^\^^^  Sa„tu.a,  as  Eva  in 

^Iff:  ^'~^^°^S^'f°^  the  moment 

Juhet?" 

"^ps— Juliet." 

lived  thro^i'^r  We''^'''  '*  ^^""^  ^he  stalls     I  have 
together,  buTw  VeleSTheml  ""I?  ^""^  "L  th^, 
agmewhatitmuatbelom?'"'^''''^^-     ^°^  «ni^! 
„UhmkIcan,  Dick."    ' 

The  CgKfth^Vttet:;;?i3t^-  """^  '^'"~ 
„  Are  you  sure  it  is  over?"  ^°  *  ^^^  to  bear. " 

Myo^^litrhJm'e'a^riSfeV  ^^"^  *°  -^  3^ou 
clew  at  all  to  hers."         ^  "'"'^'^  to  me;  and  I  have  no 

He  sprang  suddenly  to  his  f«*        ^ 
the  end  of  the  balconv     V=      „  '  ^"^  ™°ved  away  to 
melting,  followed     "^-     ^^'^^"'  ^ho  felt  his  fnSty 

4it"TS;;ferl^^'^^°^^-''hesaid. 
only  to  know  .^T^;  ^--ed,  quietly,     "i  ,,„, 
Have  you  haH  r.„ 

^  askedf  "since  tSe^^^JlT^tion  «'ith  her?"  Vas- 
35 


I' 

If 
'1    ','1 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

J^V'T^^u  ^'^"°"^-    But  I've  seen  her.    If  I  had 
.^t^dS'hf  ^Z  °^  "^^"S  "P  *^  ^''  «««"  it  received 

d«it?^  y°"  "^'^'^  •''''  °"t^    Or  did  you  meet  by  acci- 

wal'lhir  'fl  •^""•^•j"  London.    I  didn't  know  she 

where  X  J     T  '^'""''^  ^^"''^"^  ^^"^  ^'<'^^  =«P"als 
where  she  has  been  singing,  through  fear  of  being 

irom   the  East,  and  was  only  passing  through  Lon- 
don on  my  way  to  take  the  boat  at  liverpoo"^  I  had 

SL°"'l"'^  u  'I  tT"?'  ^""^  ^  «^*  her  arCnced  for 
Alda.     I  couldn't  help  it;  I  went  " 

"And  then?" 

"I  found  a  box  on  the  grand  tier  near  the  stage  I 
Ir^^iU  ''1J°"«P'^"°"«'  to  have  her  notice  me  At 
first  I  thought  she  didn't.  She  came  before  the  cur- 
tain but  gave  me  no  glance  of  recognition.  It  was  not 
until  the  act  by  the  Nile,  outside  the  temple,  thalTknew 
she  had  seen  me  She  was  singing  her  air  'O  pTil 
mta.  Then  suddenly,  at  the  words  '  Non  ti  rivedro  mat 
M-ma.  piU.-  she  turned  and  looked  at  me     I  kZ 

^^l^^  "?'^"'-.  ^1?^  ^^"S  ^"h  intention,  and  I  u„ 
derstood.  In  sp.te  of  the  pathos  of  the  air  and  situa- 
tion I  knew  her  heart  was  hardened  against  me  'S 
Hr^vedro  ma,  /Hft.'  That  signified  that  she  never  mS 
to  see  me  agam     She  seemed  to  say  to  me,  'If  you  h^ve 

back,  you  are  wrong.  You  are  nothing  to  me  but  a 
memory     I  have  outlived  your  time.    I  am  happy 

enloTl'^r  T  '•"':  '  "^"«^'  howeve'tSfX 
l^fi,  Rv.  J  L^:^  ^^  <^°'"«  before  the  curtain 

my  w?v  Sh':  ""^fT"'"''  •'"*  '""^  '°°ked  no  ^re 
my  way.      She  smiled  m  response  to  the  applause 

36 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

gotten  me  already."  ^-    ^  *'"'>'*  she  had  for- 

"And  that  is  all?" 

asked  at  last  "'  """  ^  ''°'  °ld  fellow?"  Vassall 

"  To  advise  me  " 

IVesuffe°S'and^nl\hTlUf  ':"  ^^-^ .  ^ou  know 

"Sen^:*Cf"\^r''^^— ntr- 

awake  you  can'^sleep  UoTr^Jw'7^^  '  '^™'^''  '^-P 
to-njght  for  our  old  friend^Wn'r^  ^""'..'"^  ^"  hour 
that  beneath  all  this  stohdUv  '^  ^  X°"  '""^t  see 
pretty  nearly  used  up.     If  you'^caS  Tl^^""^  ^^^  ^'™ 

"  Then  what  ?"  ^      ""  '  ''^'P  ""e,  then—" 

'  Then— but  never  mind  Ihaf     tu  i   • 

source  but  it  is  always  possiWetfiSft"  "  ^^^*  ^- 

If  you  want  me  to  help  you  "  sliH  V        „     ■ 
down  again,  "you  must  let  m^t;    f       Vassall,  sitting 

.   "I  ask  nothing  better  InTrT  ^7  ?  ^  '="^"'" 
ioUy  good  fee."  '  ^'^  ^ ""  "^^^^y  to  pay  you  a 

do!' tt"tS t  ZlSlTrlT^'  -^  --'  -  I  always 
Rngl'^rdtgtfS*?;  "'"  •""  ^  •'■^  ''^  for  your  New 

^Jz  ?a;Votto  is "  ^- " '« *-  -uch  to 

37 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
"What  shall  I  do? 

sMe  it  was  Sly  "'  ^""^  *''^"  ^e 

"It  is  curious,"  he  beean    "thaf  I  h=A 

v.i"  SS  •;.ffi"i'  •'  7?  '*•■  ■»*■■  ..id 

warned  you."  "^^au.       out  don  t  forget  I 

toli^oML^'ersoi'Z  "  "^^  ""'  ""'"  ^  -«t 
that  I  ever  saw  her  I  h.H  I  /'^"  ^^°  ^^^  ^P^ng 
and  there  I  ^ei^Jo^t^^Xi'SAlX'^'K' 

both  at  the  Savoy  we  ti^kM™''  ""''.^°'  ^^  ^^  ^^^^ 
home  together     A^riv^     *  *u^\°PP°'"'""'*y  '°  ^a'k 

3° 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
sing  some  of  his  ni'r«     u 

-aking  a  fiasco."?' th"k  Te"  rT^J""' ^^^''J  °f 
Mademoiselle  de  Pronv  J^hn  ""=""°n«'  '"  me  that 
|1  in  the  rooms  below  his  ow„  "'"I  'L  *"=.  ^'''""-'"'  ^«« 
I'Rht  knock,  and  before  Chamot  had  f  "'^"'"'^  ""^^  « 
door  was  thrown  open  and  P  I  l""^„ '"  ^r^ak  the 
stood  there.  ^  ""''  ^'^''"^  de  Prony  herself 

;;'May  I  come  in 7'  she  asked,  in  English 
ohe  wore  a  <inr«  «f  j        •        '^"gusn. 

and   flounces.     I  er  ha  r  waTh^"^"""'/"  ""^'^  '«<=« 
bare  feet  in  slippers     Her  m«iH  "^"TJ^°*"'  ^^^  her 

rnoi/  Chaillot  cri3  '"*'  ''"  **'»''  ^O""""  ce/a  cA*^ 

du;^ttL^tfmaras^-;^ J\  ^"^1"°*  -tro- 
•t  was  what  a  Frenchman  wouwt  ^f.^"*^  '''^'  ^°^  ™« 
Fehoa  gave  me  only  one  Wk-br,  "^f  T^^^"  f°»dre. 
the  work.  She  was  in  one  of  w  ^  '""'^  '''^'  ^'^  all 
was  Marguerite  in  the  garden  I?""""."' "«^«-  She 
her  love  for  Faust.  If  yfu  £  s  '"k  ^^^  ^''^  ''^''=<=«« 
Ves,  I  know. "         ^      ^"^^  ^^^"  her  m  the  part-" 

to  know  that  her  pS„"  e  liki^thrr'  ^'^^ ''."««»'  even 
at  a  late  hour  of  the-''  ^^'  '"  ChaiUofs  room 

''Notroir£?S1he'^°Lr^'' 

as  innocent  as'^'shrse'til  to  trlhr'"'  ^^"'=^«  -- 
she  was  acting  in  earnest     ^h  "^^^  ^'^""S'  hut 

she  can  do  nothing  eTse  Life  ^',h"L''  ^''T^  '^^^'- 
vein  of  comedy  or  tragedy  S^^^  her  as  always  some 
or  Elisabeth,  or  CaS    or  M  '"  ^^'^-  °'  ^"h^t. 


Aciil 


Let   Not  Man   P,ut  Asunder 

never  had  ^nwl^rnrroST to  h '"  ''""^  "'"'  "'^ 
that  and  been  gentler^ith  hef  •'  '°  ''""'  remembered 
^  You  know  her  early  history;  then?" 

»tro??n7vSrhSh;;^".  ""  ^«."-  wa,  a 
of  them  of  the  cla^s^U  wander  frn  '"^  «"R"-both 
to  another  among  the  nroWncral  /.  °."'^„«"'""  theatre 
«irl  was  born  info  the  thea"re  slT"' '"  f'""='=-  ^hc 
knew  any  other  life  never  an v  olh!?  T^>  Whenever 
moralitjo  or  -self-contmr  She  hi/  ^"^"^  °^  ''°"°^' 
home  than  a  gypsy  less  nuHuri  T  °' «  P^^anent 
bird.  One  thing  only  her  2en,f  '^'"  1!""^  «  ^''^ 
or  less  sound  arTisfc  training  Th/T.''"'  ^  ""^^ 
was  becoming  known  ■>'"^-     ^^"^y  d'ed  just  as  she 

sawtr'"""'*  '•^^^  '"'="  "'"'"'  'he  time  when  I  first 

Af^Mhe-firsfil'nVe'rifr^^     ^"^'""''^  -""• 
furthernoticeof  me  exceot  tL.       ""'""^  •^'"=  '°°'^  "° 
in  hearing  her  say  to  ChaU  ot  ^o"'',  7"''^  "'^^  «^'^'«' 
e^W?'    This  was  in  ™r    ?u    9"^' f^<^u  garson !  Qui 
Chaillot  how,  Town  in^hT^cr""'  "t  ^'if  '=''Pl«ined^to 
ringing  and  had  not  beenib  Ho  V '^^  ^'^  ^'^"^  ^m 
run  up  for  an  impromptu  reheasar'l'  ^'{  """"'^^  *° 
they  were   singing  together      Pr  .  ^"  ^  ^ew  minutes 
flash  from  MargufriteTcarmen     tL'''"I«'  '"  « 
murely  ust  inside  the  door    I  ^t       ■  ^    '"^"^  ^«'  ^e- 
out  on  the  gas-lit  ^VZ,soUhln^Z'K'°''''^ 
understand  that  the  scphp  h=V       ^"^'"^s.     You  can 

memory.     Felicia  2ng  and  acteSTo/  '""f  ''r  "^ 

was  clear;  but  it  was  Hnn»      tu        '  ""^  '•^"^fi'-'  that 

then  the  quality  in  her  .X-"'  "°"'''^^'"'  '^'""-    ^nd 

Ves.  I  remember,"  .aid  Vassall.     "The  one  word 

40 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
devils  of  desire. "      *        ""  "P  '"  »  man  all  the  seven 

responded  to  thXpt  i^;"  ^ „"«-  "-/"  "erTnd 
think  that  any  one  else  has  HstcnT.'u'  "  '""'  *^*en  I 
her  or  seen  her  J  a„,  ,  ,  "*'ened  to  her  or  spoken  to 
or  have  ever  been  ne^r  he?  I?'  n'  "''°  ^^  "-^ "e! 
>n; L'Africaine,'  ialJL^l  J  «-  '!«  «-  of  the  people 
You  have  been  hard  hit   S  ''    '  ^'''• 

^oup  as."°?,t':L'^;;'^"'^^ '  ^^^  --edthe 

when  I  was,  as  it  weVblasfed^'T'  '  '"'"»^"'  '«'- 
end  of  their  singing  ThZl^-  "  "'^^  a'  the  very 
which  the  barytones  alwav,  fi  /"""^  '°  ">«'  Passage 

to  the  bull-ring.  Thev  hin  h^"""  J^^^miHo's  exh 
.t'nies.sothat  ChailS  mijht  " ^''f  '""'^  ''  ^^ve™ 
mterval  ending  in  the  wg'pf  Ja^^  ^  v""'^  "^"^ 'J"^' 
ntire  fots.'  said  Felicia  ^n/tu  \  ^""^«  «««  der- 
had  hitherto  sung  her  nhms.  '^  ^'^^"  ^P«""-  sTe 
5'>ng  up  to  him  as  she  dr.        *u*'  '*'  ''°'''«*''  «nug! 

-fshSS^/hi;^^^^^^^^ 

rnade  a  deep  reverenc^  Beforf  I'T^V^'''  ^"''^  ««d 
to  my  feet  it  was  all  over  ShJ  '^  *^i?^  '"  '"Pring 
the  garden  again  all  in  J  "^  "^^^  Marguerite  in 

word  or  two  tf  Ch; J,  t' sKr'J"''  «™dity'  AUer^ 
the  most  modest  of  good  niS^nH  1""'^  "«  ^^ 
the  room."  ^^  "'^'^ts,  and  then  glided  from 

41 


:ft 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

stage,  that  the  curtain  must  go  down  one  dav  ^r,AiU, 
Could  you  not  have  kept  that  fiction  up?" 

shegr^Uof\rpL'^:Jsr^^^^^^^^^^ 

high-bred  conventionality  of  the  Kfe     f.L  h7„       . 

Little  bv  little  T?-^t      fiT  i  ^'■°'"  *»^'''  ""^vo'ted  me. 

witL  hen    Swarslrtb'"'    v  '  f"^'  ^"^  ^  ^"^ 

towards  her.     TheT's  stlTl  "  '"^  "'^"*  '"  "^  ^"""^^^ 

"Excuse  me,   Dick,"  said  Vassall,   uneasily,  "but 

42 


^     Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

fjtSio^^Z.   tCtS!   ^-  "-•n't  ^ive 
imagination."  ^Jmething  may  be  left  to  my 

Egypt.     In  the  spring  welr.f    °  ^^""^^'  'hen  to 
fa>  this  time  the  idvl  wL    f  ^"^  '"  P^ris  again 
to  despise  my  wlfe'lL  ^^t  W  "u"'   J  '"^'^  «^°-n 
was  to  run  her  errand.  ^  "worship  her.    My  life 

fancies."         ""  ""^"•*^'  ™y  ambiUon  to  saUsf?  £ 

b-7her  mTste?-''^^^  ^'  «  «-^  -hen  you  should  have 

'  You  talk  easily,  old  bov   K^ 
your  own  experience     V„     i  ^^"^^  y°"  talk  out  of 
who  is  east  w^inimlde  feh   bT  *'  .^°^*''"  ~n 
woman  out  of  whom  you  cannof  Hr''°'Ju'^°?  '  ^""^^  the 
prayer  and  fasting.     You  S  ?        "'^  '^^^^  ^^^n  by 
>s  all  spirit  and  nerve  and  «      ^"°^  ^''^  -"«««  who 
can  be  neither  caught  nor  t"Lh^  ''"^^i'^'y^  who 
beaten  nor  broken;  who  can  S^  "°'  ''"""'^  "or 
lash  you  to  the  bon;  wkh  a  conl^^  7°"  '^"'^  «  '°»k-  or 
you  cringing  and  crawW  to  ft  T"  1^''''  °'  ^ring 
glance  of  approval.     A  stov  W^    ^*  "^'^  ^  ^^'^  or  a 

that  she  should  not  sir.g  again     Sh^'TT  '^""ndition 

promise  and  I  counted  on  it    Yo'„  r!    •^!'^  ^"^^"  ■"«  her 

on  it^Vou  can  judge,  then,  of  my 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

amazement  when  I  discovered  in  Paris  that,  even  before 
going  to  Egypt  she  had  signed  a  contractTrsini  It 
Covent  Garden  in  the  following  summer.  WeU  X  a 
stormy  scene  I  accepted  that     For  o^ce   I  SLk  lh» 

happy  She  sang  as  she  had  never  sune  before  K 
V^r.'H*n'?r  ^'^^  *^"y°"«  began  to^taS  of  he^* 
nusband  of  the  pnma  donna.  I  accomnanied  her  in  thl 
carnage  and  looked  after  her  wra^'^^St  waTmv 

..jt  '-namberlam  before  the  queen. " 
If  a  man  is  happy  in  his  duties,"  said  Vassall  "I 
suppose  ,t  doesn't  matter  what  they  are  " 

It  wal'm^^^tT'  ^u  r*  ^  '^"^»«»  ""y  unhappiness. 
It^was  misery  to  be  with  her,  and  yet  it  was  death  to^ 

"And  what  during  all  that  time  were  you  to  her?" 

You  couldn't  tell;  she  was  so  capricious,  so  cha^l 

able  so  impossible.    There  were  days  when  she  cSX 

do  without  me;  there  wereotherswhenTSanoSy' 
Uiere  were  others  still  when  the  very  sight  of  mT  sent 
her  into  fite  of  rage.  You  couldnTteU  what  ^hZ^ 
tw«ity-four  hours  would  bring  about.     In  our  Se 

SvTr  ■*"'  '^''  ""^  °'^^-   I«  "»«  «'dst  of  luxury 
we  lived  as  m  a  circus-tent.      The  tradesmen  robbed 
the  servants  looted.    Money  lay  about  W  in  eVS 

she  had  taken  a  moment's  fancy  were  flung  aside  and 
forgotten,  or  lost  at  the  theatre,  or  drop^  frS  toe 
carnage.  I  myself  fell  into  her  ways.  IcSedTtake 
sSteTr'  °^  ''^'.^'^^  »  or  what  w^t  ou?.  fn 
rolt  ♦^^''  °T  ^™"SS  and  all  my  income  we  were 
constantly  embarrassed  for  funds.  At  the  end  of  Zt 
London  season  we  found  ourselves  positively  han[-uT" 
44 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

Poor  old  Dick,"  said  Va<!«i II  =««i    ii. 
mestic  and  financial  diJrrf^r,!?^"^'  ""^  ^^^  "^  do- 

'^^^'^^^^-'^^^^"'-■- 

"R»:i  f^"  P^'^'^y  «'ell  guess  the  res   " 

Besides,  you  have  probably  rLd  «rW 
the  papers  when  we  we^re  dfvofc  J"  "^^"*  ^^™^  ""^  « 
"  It  w!      '*■    ^  I'u^'^'*  **>«  I'^rt  to  read  it  all  " 

But"  tTatrV;:"  IT*"'"^  ^'i^*  ^^^  -"'^  Pnnt. 
::  What  do  you  wa^tTdo""  "'  "'^*  ^  ^  *°  ''^'^ 

up^thri*:^  ^'^^^  ••  '°  «°  "-k  to  her  or-to  throw 
"You  mean  by  that—?" 

"Wt  b^  '  ""'  "'7'  *^'  -'^-  taK  "• 
T^^tJ   £ror^;£;tnTiu^,,.  ^ 

of  th^mfc^s'i  w^uidiosr^b^.^'^^  •'"*  ^^"•^ 

I  would  bear  thL  f eT  tf  es^^v^l^T  ""  ^^""'■ 
only  to  get  into  her  presence,  oSy^„^htrhT  '^°''"' 
to  see  her  smile.  To  be  with  W  •  T?^  "  ^"""^  "^ 
Harry;  it  is  like  nnii,^  */ •  '^  ''''^  *ine  to  me, 

m^and\S„ranTS.oi  "  ."f "  v"'  '^"^^  ^^^ 
and  everytJ^ng  that  /trnrdo^^^iru?''"^  ^"'^  ''^<^' 
"fen^i^sJuf  "^"''  ^°"  ^^^ *^»---  the  truth-" 
ii^lp^S^JrS^^-womanback." 
dow?'^  her;  force  her;  break  her  spirit;   beat  her 
45 


Let  Not  Man  Put   Asunder 
Lechmere  laughed  scornfully 

feet,"- wSe^rh;^t"e^''  I?"^"'  «P""^"S  to  his 
gone  about  thirSolebuZ^"^  T'^'  "Y°«  have 
the  first.  As  you  say  Z^^h"  ""^"^""^  ^^^  ^^n* 
reversed  the  s,=;„atfo„  in  whrrh  ^^'''^-     "^°"  have 

towards  his  wife  You  W  ^T''  ""^ht  to  stand 
second."  °"  ''^^^  P"*  her  first  instead  of 

"Exr.T'''  never  come  second  to  any  one  " 

gospel  and  conConitsTX  ^°"°^'  ^'^^^  '^^  «nd 
hand  shall  command  a^dfhi%'T''^  *^t  the  hus- 
order.  and  the  r^suU  must  £  si'  °^/r  ^^^"^«  that 
dom,  a  comic-opera  Senf^,^™*"^  topsy-tur^-ey- 
divorces."  ^    ''^^  °^  '^''^"^^^  ^^  caprices  and 

'"iw"t  '^  ^''^  ^'"  "°t  obey?" 

Kathtt'^Wl^a^^  7Zn  fi^for  ift^^'^f  *-«^ 
a  woman?  A  woman  naT„„.i  u  ,  ''^"t  control 
great  scheme  ouSs^^ttt  ^^"  ^^.^^^'^  '«  the 
must  be  put  there  and  k^ti:  '  ^T'^t^^'  ^""'^ 
she  can,  but  she  must  ^Hwf  i,  ,  "^^  ^''P°"t  if 
you,  her  own  hapSs  del^^  ^^'^  *^^'"-  Mi"d 
be  kept  in  subjS'or  &l'urjL  *,  ^J^?""^* 
everywhere.  She  is  in  our  h^^ ^u^iu"^^  ^"-^^ 
our  chimneys.      We  neerf  ;t  /  ,  the  fire  is  in 

and  aU  the  arts  of  dviW LI  nTf'  ^""^  '^"'"^"^ 
ust  there.  Once  let  it  Jm  I  ?"*  't  must  be  kept 
and  the  whole  houtbu^.^'^  '^  P^per  confines, 
the  greatest  joy  and  the  Llri'  /  *"^"  '^  ^t  once 
life.     In  her  place   she  is  «"  ,'*^"^"'  '"  «  "^"'^ 

she  can  be  the  v4  d  wf    S' to"!  °' ''"  P'^«' 
she  will  expect  you  to  vie Irf  J-        °  ***''  """^e'  and 

"o  *.  .m  uL  »r«;°i.?xt  ■■-»»* 

46 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Sx?::.^  "t'^rttf  ^°^yed,  there  is  anarchy.  ^Ve 
ways  and  our  fake  Z^Tf'  Z'^^  °"-  ^sy-go^^ 
a  foolish  habit  of  thin W,.,  '^'^^^"y-  have  adapted 
wield  U,e  whip.  The^r^fut  is^thit'^"''*^^'"^^^^^^^^ 
niarned  couples  are  drivin7likpf/°  many  of  our 
■«  what  creates  the  mZclcoa7 'V'T'"''  ^hat 
Woman  on  a  sort  of  little  thmn  ^^  ^ave  set  up 

of  tinsel  on  her  head  and  a  J^^^,^  ""T  ""*  «  ^'"^n 
The  result  has    been   to  maike  h  '  ^^/.''^ '"  ^er  hand. 

cZl'ZlT^  -  -^^  -^- an^  yet^rilSt 

^^^-  you   said   all    this   to    Miss    Faneuil,  old 

she  !ill  l^^Taftr"'"  ""^  -"*  "eeds  ii,,  ^sson 
you-  I«ck.  If  ;»:  wa'n^t^JTdS  it  ■  ^rl  *°  ^^ '"™  "o 
to  your  wife.     Find  her Th  *'^  *his.     Go  back 

outof  theweshe^sinj!!!^--  «he  is.     Drag  h^ 
But  the  divorce?" 

^^T;L^Tf:^^^  J- w  both  Will .., 

this  woman;  you  say  y^uc™  ,•''""•      ^°«  'ove 
Take  her,   then.    If  you  can '?„/''^  '"'^hout  her. 
and  h^  character,  take  her  ?„d  IZT  ^''  '^""duct 
bnng  her  to  her  knees;  you  "an  f^^ ^^^     ^°^«  her; 
Pursue  her;  persc-cute  h;r^  1^  brutaH    t  ^^?  *°  '^°  "• 
but  do  what  you  want  to  do     i?    °  ^^'  '^  y°"  will; 
n   All  the  divorces  in  ,he  worM    ^"'  '*'"  '^  ^""^ 
tie  that  has  been  formed  between  1,  '^"^?°*  """^^  'he 
two  courses,  then.     If  you  wanrhT*  ,^°"  have  just 
whether  she  will  or  no     If^o^  H  V^^^  ^^-  ^  «y. 
her  back  into  the  mire  whence  voun"  ,  7u"'  ^^-  ^^^ 
thmk  no  more  about  her  "  ^      P""^**  her  out,  and 

Smtmg  theaction  to  the  word.  Vassal!  Jerked  the, low- 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

ing  end  of  his  cigarette  over  the  balustrade  into  the  lawn 
bdow.    Lechmere  hesitated  before  speaking 

lik.  fW  T"  f"'  1^***'  ?*^'  °^^  "^n^''  *°  talk  to  me 
hke  that,  therefore  I  ought  not  to  feel  any  resentment 
I  will  think  over  what  you  have  said,  and  all  th^Hs 

^"wt  Ir^r  ^r'^,  ^  ^"  ^°"°^-    «  "°t'  I  will-" 
„  W'hat?    Vassall  asked,  as  Lechmere  rose. 

Cio  to  sleep." 
"Perhaps  that  is  the  best  thing  for  both  of  us  to  do." 
'•i^^u\  V°:'^^  sleep-a  long,  long  sleep." 

.1  ^"i!  ^^  ''H^*?*'  ^^^'"  ^'d  Vassall,  as  the  two 
clasped  hands.     "  It  is  weak  and— and-" 

"Ridiculous.     Yes,  I  know." 

''Remember  that  I  stand  with  you,  whatever  comes  " 
Don  t  promise,  old  chap.  The  day  may  come  when 
you  too  may  give  me  up." 

.  n°?'.  ^°  *°,^-  '^""'^^  «"°ked  too  much  and 
talked  too  much,  and  drank  too  much  chartreuse  Go 
to  bed  and  sleep  on  what  I've  said  to  you,  and  you'H 
get  up  to-morrow  a  wiser  and  a  bolder  man  " 

^^  Good-mght,  old  friend,  and  thanks." 

"Good-night,  then." 

Vassall  went  into  his  room,  shut  the  window,  and 
drew  down  the  curtain. 

stir*™^"^^  remained  on  the  balcony  looking  at  the 


CHAPTER  IV 

mere  found  a  reason  fo^decS  '"''P*^'  ^"^ 

wi?VarXS£^^reir^'^*«'^^«^etta,. 
was  sure  he  had  not  yet  r^dv^  „^h"'^!'  *''•<*  «he 
bon  from  her  husband.    Sl^l^!'  ^^^'' '  «^*- 
to  her  brother.    She  was^d^  t^t^  "^'f^  ^^'dom 
boyhood  there  had  been  lit^f  J  *««^  he.  and  since  his 
Vassall  had  paid  occalnl    ^^^f^^hy  between  then, 
but  always  J&  anIncS  Z'  *°  °7'°^*°n  P«^ 
manner  of  life.    He  S^^^^^'?''^^  °^  his  sister's 
upon  him  as  inddLt  anS^Ln'^^^'-^-law,  but  'xjked 
fare.    While  keeping  aCf^i"'''^^'-«>   *«  Ws  own  wet 
jealous  of  her  reSth^UdT  ^-r  ''"*"''  ^««^"  was 
which  h^  aameCs  invS'^rErr  !v""7  ^°^^'P  - 
hgence  should  come  to  him  and  hi      .^  ^^*^"*  'n*<^'- 
Posable.  Petrina  meant  tolS  ^l     "^f  ^"  ^^""y  «« 
Interference  with  this  Wn^    ^^  "^"^^ '^^'^elf. 

unexpected  quarter.  PeS^^S"  ^T  ''""^  «  ''"i*^ 
touches  to  her  prettvautuZf.  .  '"^*  P"*  the  last 
and  mauve  wLn^ooSg  S^fT"/ ^"^''^^  brown 
she  saw  coming  up  the  avIT  '  ^^'°°m  window, 
cariole  in  which  w«e  s^t^M?  ^  ..""."j''^""^  '^""n'^y 
G«itian.  ^^  M'-  and  Mrs.  Tyrell  and 

"Horrors,  mammal"  Petnn=  ^  j  ■  , 
room.    "Do  look  out     Herein     1'"!°  *«  ^''JoWng 
groom."  '•    "^"^^ '=°Me  the  bride  and  brid^ 

49 


M  si 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Nonsense,  child  I"  Mrs.  Faneuil  repUed,  continuing 
to  tj^st  and  turn  before  the  pier-gUss.  "  They're  stiU 
on  their  honeymoon.    It  must  be  some  one  else. " 

"But  it  is,  mamma.  There;  Gentian  sees  me.  She 
IS  waving  her  handkerchief." 

"You're  quite  right,"  said  Mrs.  Faneuil,  who  had 
gone  to  the  window.  "It  is  Maria;  yes,  and  Gentian; 
yes,  and  Mr.  Tyrell  too." 

"  Do  go  and  make  sure  that  there  is  enough  for  lunch- 
eon, said  Petrina.  "I  will  go  down  and  receive 
tnem. 

"Wt've  come  to  lunch,"  cried  Mrs.  TyreU,  as  the 
carnage  drew  up  at  the  steps. 

"We  are  verj'  glad  to  see  you,"  said  Petrina,  who 
stood  on  the  veranda  and  tried  to  be  cordial.  "  But 
you  seem  to  have  dropped  from  the  skies.  We  thoueht 
you  were  still  in  Europe." 

"Papa  had  business  which  brought  us  home  unex- 
pectedly," Gentian  explained,  while  Mrs.  TyreU  de- 
scended heavily  from  the  cariole.  "We  came  in  the 
TUantc.  We  knew  you'd  be  simply  crazy  to  see  papa 
and  mamma,  and  so  we  came  up  to  the  hotel  at  Deane 
We  ye  dnven  over  from  there  just  to  get  your  congrat- 
ulaUons.  You  know  we've  never  had  them— have  we, 
mamma?    Have  we,  papa?" 

"I  am  sure  I  am  deUghted  to  offer  them,"  Petrina  said, 
with  an  effort  to  be  gracious.  She  kissed  first  Mrs. 
Tyrell  and  then  Gentian,  who  skipped  lightly  over  the 
wheel  from  the  back  seat. 

"  Do  let  me  introduce  papa,"  Gentian  said,  in  the  deep 
tones  of  a  high-priestess  about  to  unveil  a  sacred  image. 
"It  is  so  dear  to  have  a  papa— so  dear  and  so  strange 
Papa,  this  IS  Cousin  Petrina,  whom  you  have  never  seen 
Petnna,  this  is  my  papa,  doubly,  trebly  mine  since  I 
have  seen  him  married  to  mamma." 
50 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

co^JL^rrdTK/L'r^^  --  -  o"'-  to  the 

youijTad?  gits  Sl^lfr*""^'^""'  -y  dear 
kno4  you  W  '^eo'  but  fo,  '  ^  '"P^ "^  ^  ^'^""^'^  ^ave 
»ay,  circumsCces-"       ^°'  ««"mstances-that  is  to 

^^' Over  which  you  had  nocontrol,"  saidPetrina,  laugh- 
''^S^SL^';J^^"''^*-^'^*tIeho.. 

th.«as,co„pe.U„,  Fare;  a^d^^I ^Ive SnTi^Ce^-t 
"You  have,  indeed,  my  dear  " 

^\:r^r  ^^:iiT::i  tsr  i'^  «^"  ^^^ 

but  unoSruZ  fewZ  ^  ^t'  T''  "T  i?*"'*^'"*' 
which  glowed  agai^t ISwhhe  silk^Lrf'TS"?  '"''^ 
on  the  litUe  finger  of  his  sma  Ipf  v.  ^'^/^  ^  '^  ««te 
monly  supposed  to  sav  litH.  I  f  ^"^^  "^  '^^^  "^o™- 
think  much  ^        ^'  ''"''  '"  ^mpensation,  to 

ly  elegant,  PaseuJ.^%,^'  ^f '  *°°  '=°"«='°«^ 
pretentious,  clever  bufs^^^Sw  Sh/^'  f  "''^  ''"* 
aware  of  living  on  a  hieh  level  ^^^i  T*^  *°°  '""•^h 

to  drag  other^JpteuD  toT  M  *°?  "P^/ determined 
able  neighboring  or  th.  fiw  u^ut  ^^  ^  ^^^ 
wondered  why  h^  ~ri  ■     ^'^*  ^alf-hour,  and  then 

Lookingat  M«  Tri        °"  "^^^  ^  fatiguing, 
why  shei'i  Mr  tSZiTT"'*"'^""'^^-*-^ 

twenty  years.     ThS^h'ldteiytTS  t-^T^" 
5^ 


m 


I 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Gentian's  infancy;  and  the  wonder  was  that  they  should 
have  married  in  the  first  place.  It  was  not  merely  that 
she  was  much  taller  and  larger  than  he  (for  love  is  not 
always  guided  by  a  suitability  in  size),  but  you  could 
see  that  their  tendencies  were  different.  It  was  evident 
at  a  glance  that  Mr.  Tyrell's  taste  would  be  for  a  small 
place  in  the  country,  and  for  life  in  a  modest  style;  Mrs. 
Tyrell's  for  a  large  place  in  the  town,  and  for  life  on  a 
footing  consistent  with  a  generous  income.  Here  were 
the  rocks  on  which  their  barque  of  early  happiness  had 
gone  to  pieces.  Mrs.  Tyrell,  as  a  young  woman,  had 
no  mind  for  her  husband's  humdrum  life,  and  so  she 
had  taken  an  early  opportunity  of  slipping  from  it, 
carrying  her  child  and  a  handsome  ahmony  with  her. 
Henceforth  she  had  her  house  in  Beacon  Street,  while 
Mr.  Tyrell  found  repose  in  a  small  place  in  the  Newtons. 
Mrs.  Tyrell  had  become  a  patroness  of  liberal  literature, 
new  reUgions,  and  drawing-room  readings.  Mr.  Tyrell 
had  given  himself  to  the  gentle  pursuits  of  bee-keeping 
and  growing  flowers. 

Under  these  circumstances  all  had  gone  well  until 
their  daughter  had  budded  towards  womanhood.  As 
early  as  at  the  age  of  seventeen  Miss  Gentian  Tyrell 
was  aware  that  she  had  a  mission— that  of  re-marrying 
her  parents.  No  Iphigenia,  no  Jeanne  d'Arc,  was  ever 
more  consciously  dedicated  to  a  cause  than  Gentian 
to  the  reunion  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tsrrell.  She  worked 
for  it,  wept  for  it,  fought  for  it,  and  would  have  prayed 
for  it,  only  that  in  most  of  the  new  religions  through 
which  Gentian  had  passed  /rayer  was  considered  a 
slight  upon  the  Almighty.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tyrell  had 
halted,  hesitated,  struggled,  wriggled,  advanced,  reced- 
ed, consented,  refused,  and  shown  themselves  difiScult 
in  many  ways;  but  in  the  end  Gentian  had  had  the  re- 
ward which  rarely  fails  to  crown  persistency  and  pluck; 
52 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

ctoSStiTprsaTsS-    '"*';/«*   *"  «'"'y 
rows  were  senf  Krs    TtXtf  "  r'^"''"'=^"  S««"ty 
For  the  affianced  couje  ItZl  Se  r'"'!.  ^"'^'^' 
time.    Mrs  Tvrpll  ^u  „  ^^  "  second  sprinif. 

to  May.  There  were  Lte  Sfn^r"-  ''n'''  ^'  "  *«« 
"to  meet  Mr.  Tyrell  "  a^dfiv^'T  .'"  ^^^'"^  Street 
in  honor  of  the^^Ln^^tST  £'' ;*=^%t'  ^-»°" 
engagement -ring  and  felt  h!'  .U  ,■  ^'"^^  *°'^  «" 
tic.     Mr.   Tyrell  kent   »1  «tuation  most  roman- 

sight  and  3ed  the  cerr^''  ^  '^^''''^  °«t  of 
ding  Mrs.  Tyrell  wardre^,T"^  °^"-.  ^'  **>«  *«>- 
widow;  and^ijiit^n  gIvethe'"bnT'-^^^'  l^"^^  « 
were  sent  out  enerav^  Jfi,  .^^  ^"'^y-  Cards 
"Miss  Gentian  Tvfer^n„r  *^l  statement  that 
her  father  and  moS  Mr  Z  M  '''?  ^'"^"^ase  of 
and  then  the  newly  w^JdJd  iSr^^-^^^""  "^^^^ 
mg  child,  went  off  to  EunS  enterpris- 

difference,  between  them      Mr»   -r      n        ,     "  ^^  ^^^ 
of  Mrs    Faneur^»,=        *''^^- ^^e"  made  you  think 

Tyrell  wa^Zlome,  MrrVe-uKS;.  C"  t^^ 

j^3^..f-^lrtC-;-5fS^dy.^ 

cn^w^enlJerone^^^^^^^^^^^ 

yeailt!"  Sd  M^^k^-^r "Sifsr^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 
them  bad  luck."        ' '^'*"^""'    and  it  seemed  to  bring 

53 


M 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"  But  they  didn't  have  me  then,"  said  Gentian,  archly. 
^ I  should  hope  not,"  Mrs.  Faneuil  replied,  bluntly. 
M  %<■*  fi»t  you  don't  succeed,  try,  try  again,"  said 
Mr.  Tyrell.  It  was  his  one  facetious  formula  on  the 
subject  of  his  second  matrimonial  venture.  He  used 
It  whenever  a  remark  seemed  called  for  and  nothinit 
more  original  was  at  hand. 

"Well,  I  respect  your  courage,  Maria;  and  yours  too. 
Jackson." 

"They  say  it's  a  wise  child  that  knows  its  own  fa- 
ther, simpered  Mrs.  Tyrell,  "but  Gentian  has  made 
a  match  for  hers." 

"I  suppose  you  had  something  to  do  with  it,  Mrs. 
Tyrell,"  said  Petrina,  who  had  been  standing  some- 
what apart,  trying  to  conceal  her  annoyance. 

"17  Oh,  httle  or  nothing.  Gentian  did  it,  dear  child. 
It  was  quite  an  original  idea,  wasn't  it?" 

"I  could  never  have  carried  it  out,"  said  Gentian, 
in  her  deep  voice  and  prteiexue  distinctness  of  utter- 
ance, "  if  it  had  not  been  for  Spiritual  Science.  I  used 
to  sit  for  hours  at  a  time  and  just  xeiU  it." 

"I  thought  you  had  given  that  up,"  said  Mrs.  Fan- 
euil. 

"Mamma  has.  I  haven't— yet.  I  couldn't  do  with- 
out It.  It  lifts  one  up  so.  It  shows  one  how  futile  are 
the  ends  for  which  other  people  live." 

"One  can  see  that  easily  enough  without  Spiritual 
Science,  '  .said  Mrs.  Faneuil. 

"And  then  the  nothingness  of  everything  is  such  a 
subtle,  consohng  truth  that  I  wonder  how  people  ex- 
ist who  don't  believe  it." 

Well,  I'm  surprised  at  you,  Maria,"  Mrs.  Faneuil 
broke  in.  "  When  I  last  saw  you  Spiritual  Science  was 
a  mama  with  you." 

"  I  have  no  longer  any  faith  in  the  Western  systems." 
S4 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

=Sr?^'  tHeVr.x^ii^„;rat^ 

the  EtSlta^'r '«>  ""''■  ^^'-     "  ^e  study 

you  study  EL'sostonr  "*'"  "  ""'  '"''«="''•    ^ 

-t  Ddh?"  WeT;  Slfe'^H""  °"  headquarter,  are 
.han^nhav^T,;^;?,^^^^^^ 

trines  to  non-beHeve"  "  ''"*  *°  '^^  °^  ""'  doc- 

Myst^es  yourself?"  "  ^°"  "^^''^'^K  Eastern 

witticism  ^    '    "''  *  """  s™>le  at  his  own 

Libations, Aunt IsaHnrn  "r™*- 


^'  -1l 


Let  Not  Man    Put  Asunder 

MbaUon  of  wine  from  a  shallow  golden  bowl  three  times 
a  day.    It  s  very  pretty,  really,  and  so  classic,  too.    It 

^^iT"^  '^^  "i^"  "  figure  on  a  Pompeii^n  vase, 
doesn  t  it,  mamma?    Doesn't  it,  papa?" 

fhl'J*?  y°"^«««t'  Jackson?"  Mrs.  Faneuil  asked,  as 
they  turned  to  enter  the  house.     "Libations  of  ^ine 

S  AZid  Sk  "^  ^^*'^'  ^^^"^^- "-  °^  - 

The  bnde  and  bridegroom,  with  their  daughter  fol- 
lowed Mrs  Faneuil  up-stairs.  Petrina  remain^A  t^e 
veranda  a  one  with  her  ill-humor.  She  was  im^ti^? 
for  VassalKs  arrival,  but  before  he  came  the  whole 
^^^  had  descended.  The  instant  the  slight  confu- 
s^n  caused  by  his  greetings  had  pa.ssed,  Vassall  found 
his  attention  caught  by  Gentian's  deep,  musical  voice 
and  distinct  enunciation. 

"  Oh  Mr.  Va.ssall,"  she  said.  " I  am  so  glad  to  meet 
you.  It  seems  as  if  I  already  knew  you,  though  I  think 
we've  never  met  in  Boston.     But  I  k^ow  your  S 

Petnna,  who  had  observed  Gentian's  seizure  of  Vas- 
sal!, and  who  disdained  all  small  feminine  manoeui 
vres,  now  became  alarmed.  Gentian  was  quite  capable 
of  bnngmg  up  the  subject  of  Lady  de  Bohun's  sej^ra! 
tion  from  Sir  Humphrey.  =>epara 

"Luncheon  is  ready,  mother,"  Petrina  said,  with  the 
intention  of  causing  a  diversion.     "Had  we  not  better 

i.V^l  "T  V^  ««<=«ssfuL  Vassall  had  time  only 
to  bow  and  smile  and  murmur  some  inarticulate  phrase 
before  he  found  himself  drawn  into  the  little  irregular 
procession  which  began  to  move  towards  the  dining, 
room.  There,  for  the  first  few  minutes.  Petrina  felt^l 
56 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

TweuiuMl''^  ^^''^"  ^^^^  Gentian  and  Mr« 
lyrell,  but  the  conversat  on  turned  first  on  iuJl     ?' 

luie  crests  on  some  wonderful  woodlanrf  <=»,.  t?  ^ 
h«r  places  at  the  table  they  could  ffk  up  at  Ae  J""" 
tain  and  down  at  the  \au/-  .,  "'" '"°f  "P at  themoun- 

II  .^™.l  rata  „y  vi.i„  .A?;'  '""'^  *'Wl«  me. 
P-nSf  °°'  ''  ""■  "■'"  '^  "  »•  «>"'■■  »id  M,.. 

Gentian,  do  have  another  cutlet"  Ppf-,-„=   •  * 
rupted.     "You  are  eating  nothing."        ^^''^'^  '^'t«- 

"  v7  ^*'''  ^^t""f  ''^^'■-    ^""I't  think  of  me  " 
D  Jr  Wafn'flt&g^..^"^'  ^°"^  ^-^  ''--e  from 

Orpingto;7ark-"  '^  '  "^^  "^"^'  ^^  Wassail,  at 

"Reynolds,  pass  Miss  Tyrell  the  oeas  "  «.-^  m 
Faneuil,  who  seized  Petrina's  idea      '^;  ^^  f'% 
nZ^"^  i^t  ^hild  talking  so  she'll  ste  J'T;!} 
need  something  stronger  than  a  libation  ofr-r/     ■ 
wine  to  make  her  fit  to  drive  back  to  D^ne  "^''^°™'" 
57 


II 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

But  Vassal!  himself  walked  into  the  daneer  from 
M  Petnna  and  her  mother  would  have  kept^Wm 

Miss  Tyre  1  tells  me  that  she  knows  Emmy,"  he  said 

leanmg  shghtly  towards  Petrina.  "esaia. 

It  was  the  first  time  since  he  had  arrived  that  theyhaf" 

^  "^^Ta^}°^^  "^*  °*«^  '"  the  eyes,    ^trina^s 

vexed  o  find  herself  almost  blushing     It  unnm-^  her 

She"^^L\^a:l'st^"*---"--^^'>«^"-S 

"Oh,  yes,"  said  Mrs.  Tyrell.    "We  know  Lady  de 

Bohun  very  inUmately.    We  were  at  Orpington  Park 

just  before  we  sailed. "  F'"Kiun  rarK 

"We  went  down  to  luncheon,"  Gentian  explained 

■I^^"^yJ^  '^^^  ^'''«  t°  manage  her  own  affairs  " 
said  Mrs.  Faneuil,  with  a  look  at  her  sistHlSh  w^s 
mean  to  convey  unspeakable  hints  as  to  the  ne^es^^v 
for  letting  the  subject  drop  necessity 

•   " ^^l!f  ^i.'  ^"■'''-  '''y''^"  assented,  with  no  understand- 

Jw    i  ^,^°^Sht  she  was  acting  very  wisely  and 

onWnWng^"'^  ''"""^  '""'''  *="-  --^to  he-ay 

"What  Emmy  needs  most,"  said  Vassall,  frankly 

IS  not  to  make  other  people  think  like  her,  bJt  to  tWnk 

"C":  fT''''"   ^•'iV'  ^P*  '"  ^'  t°°  iniependenT" 
But  not  here,    said  Gentian,  promptly.     "Everyone 

Sul  waV^'  ^^-     ^^^  "-^  --«^  herLlf  in  the^os! 

m;:'ts  s^^Seit  ^-^-^  ^^'^  ^°  »^-"  -^"^ 

hfxn  i^"  ■  ^  ^°"  reniember  that  Ume  when  I  should 
na\c  sprained  my  ankle  if—" 

58 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
tr^nI-TLt'^fi;^f^^^I^---'l'  wildly  following  Pe- 

chiidi  I've oitlZ^tVZkyT^u ^°" '^^p'«y«'' 

limment  you  used,  but"elch  Ume  C  yo'u-"'  "'  ^'' 
in  S:e'%S^tr^"£  heranl^ej'  Vassall  asked, 
thing  aboL^Tt!"    ^'       ^  '°°"**'  ^*«°'t  l>«'d  any: 

GeS;.''^'^  S:rj  !:!i  it"  r  ^^^^  *-''  -^ 

the  heart  for  ft  Even  S^  H  ""^  1°  '""  "^'  ^^^  ^-^d 
him  of  it  in  London^Td  hwa^lT^T;  ^^^'"7^  '"^^ 
do.  He  thought  i"  Culd  0^^  u^  "f  ^*  "i"'^  ^'•^  <=°"ld 
things."  •*  ''^P  '*^'"  ^"""m  brooding  over 

VaS.  ^^  "^^^-^  l^"  -^'ined  to  do  that,"  said 

be."    Mrs.  Tyrell  simwred   „^'i ^""^  *¥*  "  '""^t 
she  assumed  hialluZ^y  u  ""'^^^^  romantic  manner 

"But  I  hoSrj;to^i  ty"^?-tu'^;'^^^^ 

Jackson;  I  hope  and  pray  that  it  ^y"  °""  '^^^  '^°"«' 

POur'outattetl^nSlra"  "T  ?'"'  '-"^t  y^'" 
Mrs.  Faneuil  sc^^TuSv  '^utT?  ^°'  l''  '^""^'"  "^^ 
ject.    Other  ^^^.pl^s  affairs-"  *  '"'  ""  '^^'^^^e  the  sub- 

But  I  don't  understand  "  said  Va..on   i    i  ■ 
mystification  from  one  tTth'e  oS     "^  '  ^°°^^  '" 
children  been  ill?    Ha.nZSry-r^'"^^'"'''' 

trinaLk^SlLf,^^;  LT^rr  ""^y  "^^  p- 

dawning  in  her  miL     "  "«,'^. attention  and  a  new  idea 
59 


m 


iM 


Hi 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

LZv^lf°"^T^^'  ''"*'  "^"S  them  both  so  inU- 
mtely  as  I  have,  I  cannot  but  think  that  all  is  for  the 

'^You  mL"wv-,,""  "^^  ^K'™'"«  t°  understand. 
You  must  thmk  me  very  dull  of  comprehension '' 
he  began,  tummg  towards  Mrs.  Tyrell  ./^P™^'""' 

.all  "  P?-^"'*-^f^^'^"*  *  '^"er  from  Emmy,  Mr.  Vas- 
lZ\    u^'T  '"te^upted.  nervously.     "I  J^U  let  vou 

KTiown  to  the  family  most  concerned  " 

My  dear  Jackson,"  said  Mrs.  Faneuil    lauirh;„„ 
S  W?h*°  "^^  *•"*  '""^  --  no'ann^yS^f^ll 

i^th^rh'^L^in^j:?-  -  ^^^^  -^  --^ 

"wJ  ar?^  T"-','  "^''L'^'""-  '^y'^"'  '"  her  own  defence 
we  are  a  family  party  here.     It  is  perhaps  as  wdl' 
60 


Let   Not    Man   Put   Asunder 
siders. "  "  ^™"  "^'  rather  than  from  out- 

are  likj'a  t^J^^^^t^f  «^J«ht  at  Pet^rfna,  "we 
of  this  kind  from  S"lf  otW  N.»  "?,  ^T  "°  ^^^^t« 
a  serious  one  to  me  and  t^;,]/^"^'  ^^^  '"''J«=t  '^ 

"Td?r.i^  T  ^™"^^  ^°S  roll  7hr  "°'^^^- 
'•Lad?dVBr„^pl;rorerA^^^^^^^^^^   «-••- 

quite  to  her  satisf^«on  s[/ H^^  If  ^"'"^  ^"anged 
delicate  i„  all  his  pSon  or  h  ^''''''T 'j^^  ^^  ^ 
she  practically  dictat«i  hi?  *       <^omfoTt.     In  fact, 

yielded  to  her'^irevelShiy ' "  '^™^-     ^"  ""^pW 

with™  tST"  tLl'erti  ""^'ir^  ^*  V--" 

.oi^r^viz  rh£;"-4ifap^r'  -'-^^ 

Didn't  you  think  so,  Mrs   S,^,"'^  ^'  ^"^  ««  goW. 

Petrma    liked    Vassair«   L  •  V 

knew  that  he  had  b^nl^th^"^'"/"''   *«^'-     She 

yet  he  had  led  theml^ro^  of  th?"'"'^  ^".'^  '^"^'  ^"^ 
ness.  °"*  °^  *he  moment's  awkward- 

ErZy'^dll^H^pt  "\"^^"^!.  ^™"We  between 
"umphrey,^  she  said,  imitating  Vas- 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

rssTlfiruch  "      '  "  """""«  '"  "  '°  '"^t^-"  M«. 

m  JKiK:'"  "^'  ''^'^"'     "«•''=  •"  ">«  o-  to  be 

a„?jS?'  rlr'^'SZ'"'  T"^''  **•"  '"»'J«=t  ^««  •'topped, 
ana  Mr.  l3rrell  began  to  compare  the  merit..  r.(  iv,7u^ 

new  hner  TUanic  with  those  oTher  rivSS  sX^ 


CHAPTER  V 

upon  his  lean  and  s^t„~cW^-  "^^  ^Ji^h^AuI 
Petnna  that  he  had  felT^e  con  T^''  "  ^'^^^  t" 
r'^  keenly  than  he  L  sVown  "^    "-"*  *"  *^'''" 

down  to  the  fake"'    '''"  ^■^' g°»g  "P  to  him.    "Come 
letteSvi?"^--"*-    "And  won't  you  bring  that 
"Wait  a  minute  while  I  put  on  a  h»t  " 

seemed  to  separate  thLT^stl^f ^  "<^'°^thwg  «hich 
were  kughing  and  gZ^^Xj"!  *^'  ^°"'  ^^- 
veranda.  s"=oiping  at  the  other  end  of  the 

When,  a  little  later    p««  • 
impressed  anew  with  LttiT  ?*"'"^'  ^^^^sall  was 
which  baffled  Lee"*  Shf ""'""'  °^  "^^^^^  «  her 
quiet  yet  commandSg   feS>lnr' f  '""^^  ^gure. 
something  almost  to  b^'lS^^'V?*  T'"*  *  *°"^h  of 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

We  shall  not  be  long  "  ^°  '^^°"'  ^«  «t"™- 

ing  sport. "  mocking  mood,  and  we  are  furnish- 

their  g.oup  and  'r^cK'  ^"^  P^""«  Passed  near 

up  that  they  are  no^Tlifwll^u""".-,  "*^«"^  °*"^ 
she  thinks  that  on  tlfsuS  „f  '^^"r^'j.but  then 
row  views.  I  wonder  h^^^u  "V?"""'*  "'^  ''"^  "ar- 
them?"  *°"'*^' ''°*  «he  would  have  us  broaden 

letter  yester^     I  Tellt  to''hlv'^^°"^'""*^'^y'« 
seemed  no  chance  XrMr  ?  ^  ^  ''""^  ^°'  ''"*  there 
"I  wish  vou  hL  "  V  **'^- Lechmere  was  here." 

news  ra5r;s  b^J  bu^Tttmer""''  r^'^'     "^ad 
from  whom  we  S  it!"    ^""^^"^^  makes  a  difiference 

nnXTe^L^gi'"'*"''^"'^""-^-    I  thought  it 

"Much  gentler.     Even  as  it  is    it  i,  U 
smce  you  are  sharing  it  "  ®^  annoying 

las7fewS«?W Lr'  '°  u'°  *^*'    I'-ring  the 
se«„s  rafher^hi^m^;  S^rThriit' tj^!"^'  *  ^^  ^''^ 

tot,!:°tLro?£ti„rrr/^^^^  ^-  Up 
have  been  more  de™'%Tenf  """^  ^'^*«  ~"W 
first  went  to  live  in  Enrian  a  f^^^T^^^s,  when  she 
babies,  we  wrote  to  S  otW  "„  *'  "^^'^''P  ^^^  ^"" 
only  within  five  yea«  that  r  v.  ''""^'^""^^  ^t  has  been 
-a  change  that  TcoSd  n.^',!"""  ^  "''^"^^  «  her 
prove:"  "''^  "^^«'"  hnng  myself  to  ap- 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 
may^^L^^oto""^^  '^'''"^^'  ^»^~ihai  you 

been  brought  up  carefuuT  m  J  .?*^  *°'^"  «^bo  has 
who  marries  into  "nTlidT^^^^!,  «"d  religious^ 
goes  among  people  who  Ch  ™°''*'  """"'^nt  '^O'W;  who 
taught  to  con'X  ,ax  ani  jr"  l^'^  «he  has  b«L 
conduct  which  she  is  C:^^°„  "P^'f  «  ^tandard^ 
first  shocked,  then  recoSeri  *V  ** '^™"e-  She  is 
courted,  petted,  and  admS  Wl  ht  h  ^T'"^'  ^^e  is 
her  moral  sense  confusS  She  ^JH^  '"  *""«*  «"«! 
by  gomg  beyond  her  ^y  teachTr^'  *I  ""^*  '^""^erts 
H«od  m  acts  of  daring  "  "  ""''  out-Heroding 

.^^^dyetldoubt  if  you  .ealizehow  little  wrong  there 

lous,  and  indiscreet. "  **'®* '«  ^°oMsh,  frivo- 

PeS":iraS^augr*"'^'^^  ''-'1«^«/'  «id 

If  eS«t^^  ^^' Wvo^y,  and  i^^i^retion  can  be 
banj  „  we  tact  that  she  has  left  her  hus! 

"n°f  '^fj^""'  not  hers." 

there  was  a  harH   j„    • 
which  was  new  tXS^"««' note  in  Vassall's  tone 
that  he  was  more  mas":S„,  tlnlt'^r  '"«"^ 
65  ^"^  supposed. 


Ill 


Let  Npt  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Won't  you  look  at  Emmv's  letter?"  .u        i    ^ 
almost  timidly  drawin<r  «!.-  /         *''®  ^^'^d- 

"P»rl„.~      1.     "™*'"e  "»«  paper  from  her  nocko/ 

They  left  the  avenue  and  entorml  a  k,«„  j 

palh which kKl di,.c5 tooSS   TW' "?;-?'?™ 

Si:i;r^r^,?»jlr^l7^»^rh•'c,■ 
p^.:^  '»''.i">^:i."s,ThS£t 

•  ;;it  is  as  I  thought,"  he  said.  quieUy 
You  mean  that—?"  H"«:uy. 

impulses  without  conscience  oTtho^I^Mf  **"■  *"^ 

Petrina  flushed  a  ihIok  *    "^"^rht  of  consequence." 

and  sSy  brfl*Wm\'e  Jid^*'7'''r'^"«^^«'8ht 
addin.  a  nL  bea:t?S'th':itSy-Sn?:^  cter"^  ~'- 

poJS^v?^":  ir^neS^LVrfr^^-"^^^^^^^ 
dent  of  conations  Tad^S/!  "^"'y-  ^"^ '« '«d«f«n- 

h«hushand.asaias\trrcti«th^°TlSt^^ 
66 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asun^ 
"ButE  ■'isunder 

?n,er  letter  iithZ  s^dn^lhT^u '^'*^««  ">«  line, 

«SnifiM  '!hat' Si^fcu '""  I'  Orpington  Park     Th„. 

How  you  „,e„  hang  oLZr  •'     "54"  ""=  right."  ^ 
a<hin,  with  a  smile.    ^'°^^""^^'    «'d  Petrina,  looking 

tern  .,j„rf.     -Olh^^^ri^f"  Werf  to  Hi,/,  p^ 

b»tt„    ..  *«»ld  c.„  to  have  ,„„  ,;,  . 

WouMj<.uh.vc„e(<,ra_J- 

67  ^'^^^  a  pretty  piece 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asund 


er 


D^^vTrL?  ."  '^  "^  ^"  '^*'*  contemporaries  liked  to 
play  croquet.  There  were  nwUc  seats  here  and  there 
soraHong  enough  for  two  or  three,  and  K>me  Uke  arm- 

"Let  us  sit  down,"  said  Petrina. 
self  "Jfnl^ri'h""'  °^  the  arm-chairs.    Vassall  threw  him- 

a^i  K  t  *™v-  'l*"'  ^'^^  P"''"'^  »"«•  '"'ended. 

4  ^."'^  P°«<'°n  better  so  than  side  by  side 

The  afternoon  was  very  sUll.    The  water  was  Uke 

burnished  metal.    A  solitary  boat  lay  motionless  far 

out  upon  the  lake     The  hills  all  round  were  wonderful 

ZTZ'-'  f^?u°"^*?  '"^  '*'°"«  «"Kel  had  flown  down 
and  painted  them  m  all  the  hues  of  heaven 

Nor  as  any  relation  whatever."  Vassall  reoeated 
musingly,  his  gaze  fixed  upon  a  tr«,  which  bStli 

♦„?'i7?u™*^"-  *°  ^  '^•"  »«'*'  Pe*""*.  «'ho  ventured 
to  look  at  hitn,  since  he  was  not  looking  at  her. 
And  exclusive." 
"I  suppose  it  is  that  too." 
;;  And  may  I  ask  why  you  make  this  severe  decision?" 

Because  you  are  .so  hard  " 
"But  if  I  softened?" 

.«.'i'i^'*T  ^  ""*'^*  reconsider  my  opinion.    But  I  should 
still  find  you  unforgiving." 
"But  if  I  forgave?" 

n»T!*.f1  ^  f'^'^^  """''  '^""'  "^  y°";  l""'  I  should 
nevertheless  take  note  that  you  are  narrow  " 

"But  if  I  broadened?" 

"I  should  begin  to  have  hopes  for  you,  only  that  I 

know  you  are  so  self-righteous." 

He  winced  at  the  last  word. 

"I  must  have  a  great  deal  to  overcome  " 

68 


Let  Not  Man  Put   Asunder 
"You  have." 
"Oh^uch^"'**'  ''°"  ^"''  "°*  y*'  n,e„tio„ed?" 

»i*  wXS;;^  "'""'  >-  '  ■■■-  '■■'  "-.:..  . 

"Not  to-day." 

"No,  but  there  are  other  dayi,   ' 
^  Are  you  so  anxious  to  hear  your  !r  .NV" 
les,  from  you." 

"f  wnifir"  *'°"''  ^°"*  *°  ^^o  them  ,,1-' 
"-rr  .  •     ^''^  "P  anything  for  you  " 

^Sfi'^nT"^'^''""''"'^""' »"«**'«'•" 
"In  any  sense?" 
"In  every  sense." 
^^\Suppose  some  time  I  wanted  to  take  you  at  your 

"Srrm1SaJJ!»''^"'"-^-y°-'est." 

Jin^L':^^'"^''^  ""-«>'  -«»  Petrina  sto,. 

'•S'^"*u-  ^''';«>^tly-    "Some  day-7" 
^  Oh,  nothing.    I  will  not  say  it  " 

"Perhaps." 

was  setf!p^s'S''t  °\!f  1"^'^  «^W««"«J  "Ps.     Sh, 
"Tu    P"?^^^™'  ™t  her. voice  was  low. 

1  nen  why  not  now?" 
She  made  no  reply. 

69 


Hi 

III 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

"Then  why  not  now,  Petrina?" 
She  still  made  no  reply. 
'* I  may  call  you  Petrina,  mayn't  I?" 
"  ^^'^^'^  y°"  already  done  so?" 

And  you  are  not  offended?" 
"No." 

acr^stiSe"'?:trrS?''-'^"-''-"^ 
^,  Do  you  know  what  that  permission  makes  me  hope?" 

J-lJ^^i  ^  "^^^  ^°  "P  °"*  °^  ">e  dull  world  in  which 

_  Is  there  such  a  world?" 

"Yes;  near  you." 

There  was  a  long  silence.  The  stillness  of  the  world 
around  seemed  to  have  descended  on  the  two  who  felt 
themsdves  trembling  on  the  edge  of  the  supreme  a Jowaf 

^^  1  ou  know  I  love  you, "  VassaU  said,  at  la.  1 

"  A   j'     '^°^'"  she  answered,  simply. 

"And  rdo7&r'  '^' '""  •"^"  ^^  ''^^- 

eal  to'sirtl^""'.'"''  'f  T"-  A  ^"^  ■«  the  .^ood  be- 
gan to  smg  sleepily  and  plaintively.     Petrina  strai^^ 

?e^  w\-  T'T't  *"  '°°^  down  upon  the  w7t  he^ 
feet;  while  he,  too  happy  to  believe  or  comprehend  wl 
happiness,  too  happy  to  speak  or  move  or  ev^  to  glance 
upward  lest  he  should  break  the  spell,  gazS  drSy 
ov^  the  waters,  at  the  many-coined  mounU^s^a^ 


CHAPTER  VI 

thII™tUeTr'f  •''*"'  ^"?«g^™ent  at  once,  so 
wTn^    '""le  flutter  of  interest  it  was  bound  to  cause 

There  was  thus  no  ecstasy  in  Petrina's  .W   h„t    u 

.he  considered  1^'^^::,,-^!^.  e^t,  S' 

acno  oy  and  by.     For  Petnna's  happiness  lay  in  the 
71 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

ShlT  ^  ^^^a7^^  ^f  "  ^*"  marriage,  not  before. 
np«^  /"•  ^^u^lP'r^'  •"**  "n'y  «  genial  large- 
s^ll  '",  ^"^^'^.f'^f  ««*  herself  as  a  star  of  con- 
to  r'flS  rtht'^'"'^'  ^"^""^^  "y  ^  ^^'^^  -W« 
The  ecstasy  and  excitement  were  on  Vassall's  side 
Se  ZrlH  V  ""^  t°  5°n<:eal  his  joy,  or  to  hide  from 
the  world  his  sense  of  having  won  a  notable  victory 
Sfir^r  1^'  expression  to  his  feeUngs  which  Se 

reticent  man  allows  himself  only  now  and  then  in  hfe 
on  the  rare  occasions  when  reserve  is  broken  down 
Uchmere  left  for  Lenox,  and  Vassall  remained  alone 

fl^.  t  rl°L  ^^^  """P^  *^*  ^°»°^«1  '^^s  for  both  of 
the  betrothed  one  of  unbroken  happiness.  Vassall 
brought  adoration  to  Petrina's  shrine,  and  she  found 
such  pleasure  in  accepting  it  as  some  youne  eoddess 

l^s^Ii'e^br  ^  ^"^-^^-  "  --  •>-  '-'  ""'-e  *e 
They  were  in  the  stage  where  talk  of  the  future  was 
^I  vague,  where  there  were  no  clashings  of  opinio^ 
because  there  was  no  definiteness  of  plan.  Now  and 
then  Vassall  gave  utterance  to  some  hope  which  Petrina 
did  not  share,  but  she  maintained  a  smiling  .siW 
Sr.  Hfn™'?  °^  her  power  to  correct  whatever  in  his  aims 
she  did  not  care  for.     Now  and  then  Petrina  revealed 

h'^^^l  "Tm  vf'^"'"'=y  °^  ''^'^^"  *Wch  perplexed 
hxm  but  he  held  his  peace,  never  doubting  his  ability  to 
develop  in  her  anything  she  lacked.  To  each  the  oUier 
was  a  new  and  delightful  accessory  to  life.  The  strands 
of  love  and  sel  -love  are  difficult  to  disentangle.  To 
Vassall  Petnna  s  destiny  was  to  add  beauty,  poetry  and 
charm  to  his  rough,  masculine  life;  to  Petrina,  Vas^U's 
task  was  to  bnng  strength,  stability,  and  importance 
into  her  manifest  sphere  of  action.  It  did  not  occur  to 
either  to  think  of  the  other  as  leader;  nor  was  th«e  a„v 
72 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

s«se  of  rivalry  because  each  was  in  his  or  her  own 
judgment  so  evidently  first. 

The  weeks  of  love-making  glided  by,  with  no  vexed 
quesbons  raised.  They  Mved  in  a  world  al  lit  up  S 
mapc  tints  lie  the  mapl^overed  mountJns^round 

"Toujours  dans  le  pays  hleu?"  Mrs.  Faneuil  asked 
when  Vassall  arrived  one  day. 
"  Dans  k  pays  d'or."  he  replied,  with  fervor. 

skies.     The  masts  of  their  barque  v.  ere  of  gold  and  the 
sails  of  fine-twined  purple.     Palaces  studdSl  the  shore 
and  laughter  and  happy  music  floated  over  the  waters 
But  in  this  enchanted  country  they  two  were  alone,  car- 

^?h  oUi^  '"^  '°  ^^  °^^'  *"®""'*  t° 

int7^5?^'"-"^'*""^"^''«'-    "^"''  3hall wewake 
"TWs  is  reality,"  Vassall  affirmed.     "Thl-  is  the 
true  hfe;  this  is  the  true  world-the  life  andlJe  woSd 
by  love  ""      ^^"  °"'^  ""^^  ^^^  ^^  ^""^  »>««>  opened 


1.     '  li  1 


CHAPTER  VII 

thai  Tnv  shL"""'  ^'*r^  }}^^  ^"'"™«»  to  Boston 
that  any  shadow  on  her  happiness  appeared  It 
co^e^^unexpectedly  in    her  first'call   upT^^^aU's 

fasW^nllr^"  '''?*  """1°^  ^'  ^°^''>'  «nd  dressed  in  a 

oi  sixty,     bhe  had  been  a  beauty  in  her  time-  and 

hough  on  principle  indifferent  to  outward  ad™r^™^t 

she  could  not  even  now  extinguish  the  light  of  hTblue 

pfexion"  ShtH^'  ^''^''  transparent?  of  her  com! 
ton.     She  had  a  sweet  nature,  a  sweet  voice,  and 

CtToraTored'he7  °"^  ^^^  "  ^^  ^  -"<»- 

When  Vassall  had  written  from  Ashuelot  the  news  of 

his  engagement,  the  mother  had  spent  one  day  wee^W 

n  her  room  and  another  praying  i^Jhe  church.     S 
she  was  ready  for  her  renunciation 

He  was  her  only  son.     Since  Emilia  had  married  and 
gone  to  hve  in  England  he  seemed  in  many  wTS  Te 
her  only  child.     She  loved  and  honored  Wm    she  was 
very  proud  of  him.     Now  she  was  going  to  IcTeWm 
She  had  no  Illusions  on  that  subject,  \hfugh  hTi^hi 

In  !^      n^'^-u  ^'*  *•"  dutifulness  on  his  part  and 

u^?n7f  ,1  '^"   ''""''  "°'"  ^^'  ^'^^  matter-of-course 
turning  of  the  one  towards  the  other 

•  Yea,  a  sword  shall  go  through  thine  own  soul  also  " 

74 


*'i!?Jfi3?SB9r^^¥f^' 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 
for^mShloi""''^^"'^-     "™^  '^  '^'^  P"-  on.  pays 

vassal  could  not  narry  any  other.   Besides  she  knew 

i|s?wo^dS.rss;^-~^ 

Boston  had  become  so  big  that  families  once  intimate 

rich'Ther  rt'  V;''  '"'  ''"°"  almost  nSnJ 
oi  each  other.  Then,  Petnna  had  been  much  abrnaH 
returning  only  to  sj«nd  the  summers  at  FrneuTffilt 
Th«a,  Mrs.  Vassall,  since  her  widowhood  had  Jejt 
httle  m  touch  with  Boston.  With  a  few  old  famSs 
who  clung  to  their  ancestral  homes  on  Beacon  Hm  she 
maintained  the  acquaintanceship  of  former  years  W 
she  knew  nothing  of  the  Back  Bay  or  of  Xt™c'aE 

£e  war"  '"'"''    "'"  '''''  '=°'»^  '«'°  Prominence  sinS 

one  of  the  Henry  Vassalls  before  th  Lvdu  ion  xSe 
very  circumstance  cut  her  off  somewhat  from  the  I  r! 
rent  of  that  modern  Boston  life  in  which  she  rSght  h^  1 
known  someth  ng  of  Petrina  Mrs  V„Jl  ii 
tiallv  .,f  nu  r  u  -J  ^:  '^-  ''assail  was  essen- 
tially of  Old  Cambridge.     She  was  vaguely  aware  that 

75 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

a  great  rich,  active  Boston  had  come  of  late  years  into 
being,  but  It  was  not  a  Boston  in  which  she  herself  was 
concerned.  As  she  drove  through  Commonwealth  Av^ 
nue  she  was  conscious  of  a  large  and  handsome  quar- 
ter  which  had  not  existed  when  she  was  a  girl  It  was 
inhabited,  she  supposed,  by  people  who  "had  made 

i^^IlJ^Tfi,"'  ^P^"'«"°'  -«  fa<:t  which  must  nat- 
urally put  them  in  a  very  indefinite  social  place.  But 
It  was  nothing  to  her.  The  Boston  to  which  she  be- 
longed was  the  Boston  of  old  families  closely  related, 
and  of  old  fortunes  and  .amily-seats  transmitted  from 

bons  with  Old  Cambridge.  Its  people  formed  a  mer- 
chant-aristocracy dignified,  stable,  large-minded,  and 
pubhc-spinted;  they  were  often  learned,  oftener  ,;atty 
and  nearly  always  worthy  of  esteem.  Among  them 
«^re  to  be  found  writers,  artisU,  and  philosophers 
beautifu  women,  and  brilliant  men.  Their  living  was 
Wfu  "'  Pnnc'Ples  were  high.  When  they  trav- 
elled they  mingled  with  the  best  in  every  land  and  did 
honor  to  their  city's  reputation  and  their  own 

In  companson,  the  newer  Boston  seemed  to  Mrs 
Vassall  noisy  and  pretentious.  She  shrank  from  it' 
shutUng  herself  up  more  and  more  closely  in  her  Old 
Cambridge  hfe.  As  a  Pepperell  by  birth  (Sir  William" 
fami  y)  and  a  Vassall  by  marriage,  she  had  no  social 
favors  to  ask  of  any  one;  .she  could  follow,  then  her 
own  inclination,  and  live,  as  she  said,  "without"  dis 
play. 

It  was,  ttiirefore,  no  small  comfort  to  her  that  in  his 

stIcuTs  "^dT"^*  '^^*  '^^°  ^^^  '■"''"  **  ^'^'  "^^^  *^ 
Her  letters  to  Vassall  questioned  him  closely  as  to 
76 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

f^^''  .f^.'-a'^ter-.habits,  reUgion,  and  looks;  but 
except  on  the  las  point  she  received  no  answer.    Hen^ 

I?"  J^^v™"'*?- '"  '°^^'  »>"*  ^^g"^-  She  therefore^ 
solved  to  be  patient  unUl  able  to  judge  for  herself 

^^1  f  f/^''"g  "^"^  P«*™^  came  about  unex- 
pectedly to  Mrs.  Vassall.  She  was  .seated  one  dly 
sewmg  at  an  upper  window,  when,  looking  out  tow^ 
ards  the  s  reet,  she  saw  a  victoria,  drawn  by^two  hand- 
forTthe  gtte  ^'ver-mounted  harness,  stop  be- 

"What  display!"  thought  Mrs.  Vassall,  as  her  eve 
wandered  from  the  steeds  in  their  trappings  to  Zl 
coachman  and  footman  in  their  liveries 

Display  was  Mrs.  Vassall's  horror.     It  belonged,  ,she 
thought   to  the  "new  people,"  who  liked  to  show  tha! 
they  had  money.    She,  too,  had  money  in  modest  meas- 
ure, but  she  was  careful  to  spend  it  in  such  a  way  as 
to  produce  no  visible  effect.     She  had  her  horses   her 
carnage,  and  her  coachman,  but  from  their  style  no 
one  would  ever  have  suspected  the  sums  she  spent 
upon  thenr     She  wore  only  the  richest  and  costliest 
materials,  but  from  her  appearance  only  the  exnert  in 
stuffs  could  have  detected  the  fact.     Thfs  pleaTed^^s 
Vassall.     It  was   her  conception  of  high-bred   sim- 
phcitjf     It  had  been  the  Boston  standard  in  the  days 
when  the  Back  Bay  was  still  a  bay,  and  not  a  mesh  of 
handsome  but  obtrusive  streets;  it  was  still,  thank  God 
the  standard  of  Old  Cambridge.     She  liked  to  feel  that 
she  had  the  very  best  of  everything,  but  that  no  one 
knew  it  but  herself. 

'"HTiat  display!"  Mrs  Vassall  said  again, as  Petrina 
descended  from  the  carnage.     "  Who  can  she  be'" 

yas.sall  was  in  New  York.     He  had  gone  directly 
thither  from  Ashuelot,  where  he  had  lingered  till  the 
latest  moment.    Mrs.  Vassall,  therefore,  did  not  know 
77 


Let   Not   Man    Put   Asunder 

?hiv^^*!?"''  T'^.^"  '"°">"  ^^  ^'='"™«J  to  town. 
M  b  '  '"  '^e*'  ^."'^"l  i"  Beacon  Street  onlv  the 
^ht^  \7^  ^''/""^  ^^"  *«'""g  the  earliest  pos- 
quirnr'  *°  "'''-■  '"  '"'^'^  •nother-in-law's'^c- 
The  house  stood  back  from  the  street,  but  there  was 
no  dnve-way  by  which  .  .proach  it;  there  was  onty 
Oie^traight  garden-pa  „     viU.  an  old-fashioned  border 

As  Petiina  advanced  Mrs.  Va.ssall  looked  out  with 
growmg  disapproval  This  tall  young  woman.  wiS 
the  long  but  graceful  tread,  and  the  curious,  delicate 
^hinx-hke  face  was  the  very  embodiment  of  that  new 
Boston  from  which  Mrs.  Vassall  shrank-the  Boston 
n  which  gold  and  silver  and  gems  and  color  had  taken 
the  place  of  books  and  quiet  living  and  deep  thinkLg 
and  strict  pnnciples.  ""jmiug 

"What  display!"  Mrs.  Vassall  said  a  third  time  as 
she  noted  the  points  of  Petrina's  costume  ' 

But  here  she  was  unjust,  for  Petrina  was  dressed 
very  quietly-all  m  black,  with  pretty  touches  of  red 
Only,  them  were  graceful  plumes  in  her  hat,  and  over 
fe^th^  wv/''"^  was  something  long  and  soft  and 
effJl^T'  ^  L'",''"'  '^^°^^  appearance  there  was  that 
effect  of  subdued  elegance  which  bespeaks  mones^,  taste 
and  much  thought  given  to  details 

When,  a  moment  later,  the  servant  brought  a  card  with 

the  name  "Miss  Faneuil,"  Mrs.  Vassall  required  ^me 

few  seconds  to  adjust  her  mind  to  the  surprise.     Bring 

a  good  woman   she  at  once  rebuked  herself  for  hasty 

judgment  and  lack  of  charity. 

J- One  must  not  go  by  mere  appearances,"  she  said- 

she  is  young,  and  we  should  make  allowances.     Wheri 

down  "^'^  ''  '^''P^''^  ^"^  doubtless  be  toned 

78 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
to  descend  **  «""'"•  ""^^  '"ade  ready 

dnve  Had  ^„  .„,.  S"  Jtf^  t^  ^^.'^ 

•said'S'visS'fo '"^srasTh"''  in  CambridgeT"  she 
the  Charles.  "  It  is  iikl '  Tnf  TT!^  ^'"^  '^"''««  °ver 
feUowship. "  ^°'"^  ""'^"'^  the  pale  of  human 

Her  mood  softened  a  Kttle  as  she  passed  ,„♦    *.. 
bowered  roads  of  the  University  townTtset  fh"/  '  f^ 
overgrown  village,  set  amid  gardens  and  r n^     ^'^u^i 

«™l.ng,  ....    Sh.  .i  „  S  Li"  P^yS  ^ 


Let  Not  Man   Put   Asunder 

delicate  attention  to  an  old  one;  that,  from  Petrina'a 
point  of  view,  was  inseparable  from  a  sense  of  pretty 
patronage.  Then,  she  was  a  rich,  handsome,  and 
fashionable  girl,  whose  society  was  courted  and  per- 
sonality admired,  coming,  with  what  was  meant  to 
look  like  eagerness,  to  press  the  hand  and  perhaps  to 
kiss  the  cheek  of  one  who  was  living  in  the  background. 
Petrina  naturally  expected  her  graciousness  to  be  re- 
ceived with  gratitude.  Up  to  the  present  Mrs.  Vassall 
had  been  to  her  a  negation — one  who  would  not  have 
required  a  second  thought  if  Vassall  had  not  spoken 
about  her.  Petrina  was  making  this  call  to  please  him. 
It  was  a  duty  rather  than  a  pleasure,  and  was  of  no 
permanent  significance. 

But  as  she  threaded  one  after  another  of  the  shady 
Old  Cambridge  streets  the  negative  began  to  be  more 
positive.  She  was  conscious  of  a  mental  atmosphere 
quite  different  from  that  of  the  Back  Bay.  The  rows 
of  quiet  houses  standing  amid  spacious  grounds,  the 
general  air  of  unostentatious  plenty  and  of  occupied 
tranquillity,  struck  her  as  suggestive  of  other  aims 
and  other  standards  and  other  points  of  view  than  any 
she  had  made  her  own.  She  had  an  uncomfortable  sense 
of  being  among  people  to  whom  her  beauty  and  elegance 
would  make  no  appeal  — who  would  not  admit  the 
grounds  on  which  she  claimed  the  right  to  be  placed  first, 
and  would  look  in  her  for  merits  she  had  never  meant  to 
cultivate. 

For  the  first  time  s!i«  began  to  wonder  if  it  was  not 
this  Cambridge  influence  which  had  given  Vassall  his 
distinction  from  tlie  other  men  she  had  known,  his 
strange  ardor  for  ideals,  and  his  curious  indifference  to 
externals.  For  the  first  time  she  began  to  ask  if  Mrs. 
Vassall  herself  might  not  be  a  power  to  be  reckoned 
with. 

80 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
This  suspicion  deepened  as  she  drew  un  before  »!,. 

K^ir"''  ""'  «m..classical  facade,  ana„,aru, 
"How  stupid  not  to  have  a  drive wav  »nJ  o . 

one  carplpiMiv  -™      M""'^".    retrina  gave  them  only 
one  carelessly  comprehensive  glance.  ^ 

moulds,  ceilings,  its  generouT  stS^^d  t  s'^t 

"^^  «Vhtr^ldf  o?^V/  "'"  »He  confessed. 

iJt^Z  ^"  t'^'"^^'  ""*«*•     As  she  looked  about 
her  in  the  great  drawing-room,  into  which  ^e  h«H 

mJ^-^.'Zlf^L  l%i  °^  •^^-^"^-tion,"  tel. 
There  were  boule  cabinets.  Empire  sofas   <?J,»r=. 

dating  from  the  sixties,  of  Joan  of  Arc  offf^t.^  u 
sword  upon  the  altar    and  Henry  Vtrv^!^  u^ 
father's  crown.     The  grand  ^anTwa!' asTufhlt^? 
date  as  a  harps.chord,  but  on  it  was  the  o^  touch  in 
the  room  of  the  progressive  present  day.     It  w'ls  a  itge 


MIOOCOPY   KISOIUTION   TIST  CHA>T 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No-  2) 


^  APPLIED    IIVMGE      In 

^^  1653  Eail  Main  Street 

S^S  Rochastar,  New  York        U609      USA 

~.SS  (716)  4B2  -  0300  -  Phone 

^B  (716)  288  -  5989  -  Fo 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

f^troKau'rtSir  '"^  ^  "^^  ^-"^-  -•» 

I  don't  wonder  Emmy  revolted  against  all  tv,;= 
mcongruity."  Petrina  thought.  "  TluTmu  1 1  ^he 
old  New  England  one  has  heard  about-when  4>ple 
t«v  ft^T^'^'i  ^"^  '••'J'^'t  dress  for  dinner;  wKey 
tovelled  for  mformation,  and  made  notes  on  the  celeb^ 
nties  whom  they  met. " 
But  as  she  heard  Mrs.  Vassall's  step  upon  the  polished 

mwZ/"lT  ''ir'^^  •^^  feeling^fTniS'S 
i/u  ^"lg°t  herself  ready  to  be  gracious. 

wmch  the  ladies  stood  looking  at  each  other.     It  was 
Ike  two  a.spects  of  American  civilization  come  suddenly 
face  to  face.     Petnna  took  the  initiative  and  went  for^ 
ward  with  a  rusOeof  silk,  and  long,  soft,  fel^I  read 

to  Mrs    VasSr<^^^'    '^'  T"^'  ''"''^'"^  °»t  both  hands 
tos^yolsor"'     ''^^-^  I  <^°"'dn't  wait.    I  wanted 

"You  are  before  me,"  Mrs.  Vassall  repKed,  takine 
rSaVreSXtTA  """'^  '-^^  '''''^^^" 

breSrring'bTaS/^  '°'^""  ""''  ^"^-""^  '^  '^ 

peSsriJ* "' ''"  ^°"'"  ''"•  "'^^^^  ^^'  --^ 

"c'omlnTrreltth^eSirht''   ''^^-    "^^^"^   ^°""- 
She  led  Petrina  towards  a  window. 

"and  vet°"r  H^'  '^ii'°  ""'**  ^'"'"*  y°"'"  «he  went  on, 

from  J.rl  /        .  ''"T  y°"-     ^t  '«  «°  hard  to  judge 
irom  mere  descriptions  "  ^ 

Petrina  felt  that  the  tear-bedimmed  blue  eyes  were 

&2 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

She  looked  for  sol  eSe3sf„n'T:,""^■f"■P°^«^«««^• 
said:  '^'^'^*^'"&  the  girl's  hands,  only 

Mrs.  Vassall  sSd  aUin"'^^'-"  ^^""^  "«^'-'=  descriptions," 

PeWna:^Ju;h1L"had^''^?^^'r  '"  '"^'" -^ 
effect.  ^  ''^'^  "°  ^^'^  of  producing  that 

Mrs.  Vassall  sX  ^°"  ''"°"  "^^  '''^"er-"^ 

"I  know  how  you  feel  dpar  "  cV,„  •  i 
Petrina's  hand  and  p^t  ingi  '    f.''i\'"t^""Pt«l,  taking 
When  one  has  been^n^S  „„-  J  ''"'"^  '^"^  y°"  feel, 
one  is  naturally  consdous  of  on^'^  ^  ™^"  "^"  "^"^^ 

:;  Very,"  said  PetrinTd^yir  "  »«-°rthiness.  " 

to  greale'sWvingV.'^""  °'  °"^'^  -^knes,s  a  stimulus 

"OryeT^r  *''"'  '/°"lf  P^«^'«-'y  strive-" 
srail^g."^  SheTik^^S'-:'?^-  V^«««»  interrupted, 
esty.     "We  all  Sth^f    '^'  *^."^^'  P^'^n^'s  niod- 
at  last.     And  yJrl  ST^'hJ  '"*'  '"'  "^  --««» 
not  exacting.    He  illL  h^,  /IT^-  '' **"'^*'  ^"t  he  is 

"I  am  nnt\r,M  u  ^  '^ther  in  that." 

am  not  much  accustomed  to  taking  other  people's 


1    i^i 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asund 


er 


wishes  into  consideration,"  Petrina  managed  to  say 
at  last.  She  was  annoyed  with  herself  for  the  crude 
self-assertion  of  the  speech,  but  Mrs.  Vassall  took  it  in 
another  sense. 

"No,  I  suppose  not,  dear.  As  an  only  child,  and  in 
some  measure  independent,  others  have  hitherto  thought 
for  you,  rather  than  you  for  them.  But  you  will  find 
the  active  part  of  life  so  much  richer  than  the  pas- 
sive." 

■■  So  I  should  imagine,  but — " 

"But  you  fear  your  own  inability  to  meet  the  de- 
mands that  will  be  made  upon  you?  Naturally.  All 
good  women  do  on  the  eve  of  marriage.  But  you  will 
have  Henry's  love  and  guidance,  and  I  hope  you  will 
remember  that,  if  any  counsel  or  sympathy  of  mine  can 
help  you,  I  shall  never  have  any  wish  so  dear  as  to  be 
of  service  to  both  you  and  him." 

It  was  quite  clear  now  to  Petrina  that  she  was  in  an 
entirely  new  world.  The  negative  had  become  positive. 
The  mother,  who  had  been  but  a  shadow,  was  assum- 
ing with  each  word  a  personality.  Petrina  continued 
to  smile;  her  tone  was  soft;  her  gestures  were  gentle; 
but  within  she  was  annoyed.  She  had  lost  the  sense 
of  patronage  with  which  she  had  set  out.  This  prim 
little  Puritan,  whose  simple  dignity  and  middle-aged 
prettiness  were  admirably  heightened  by  the  severity 
of  her  plain  black  attire,  had  a  presence  quite  equal  to 
Petrina's  ovra.  She  might  live  out  of  what  Petrina 
called  "the  world  ";  she  might  be  quite  unfashionable; 
she  might  not  heed  the  difference  between  "Chippen- 
dale" and  "Empire,"  nor  pay  any  attention  to  the  art 
of  hanging  pictures;  but  she  was  not  a  woman  who 
could  be  left  with  affectionate  neglect  to  her  knitting 
and  the  chimney-comer.  Petrina  grew  at  once  aware 
of  that.  She  had  a  renewed  sense  of  being  judged  by 
84 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

a  standard  which  was  not  what  she  h^A  .»« 
was  conscious  that  her  h«.„7,,  .     .^^*  "P-    She 

that  she  was  bet  e  a  trfSlX?!*^"""^  "°  ^^«='' 
manners  and  perfect^n  of  extemaT  detri^'^'r  """^ 
unheeded  in  the  search  for  the  ^  of  h    soul      '^^ 

their  inti„,at:  "and  sa^'rerex^Tencl' ^X '".   ^^ 

;'0f  course  "  said  Petrina,  vaguely 
w^;j-~--;^^.itedo 
j.^^  That  ,s  no  doubt  often  true,"  Petrina  assented,  po- 

my^'J^U-'   *"''  '^"'-"*  '^''  '  •^-^  f-nd  it  so  with 

"Your—?" 
_."My   girls,    dear.    I   mean  m^    v^^^j  u- 

"  What  is  it?"  Petrina  asked,  still  vaguely    "  n„  ih 

fhinrthe'^P"""  '^?"'=^^'  -  «  cotlltfn  ta  h^lP  ^ 
*.nk  *e  younger  gn-ls  have  something  of  tle'stt  i^ 

"Oh  no,"  said  Mrs.  Vassall,  a  litOe  shockpH      "tu 
are  only  working  girls,   but  such^td'^rf,,  ^^Z 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asund 


er 


to  teach  them  to  be  simple  and  industrious    to  have 

She  did  not  mean  to  be  so  blunt,  but  the  sentence 
sUpped  out  before  she  could  control  h;rself 

-l""^  ''°"i^"  '"■"  '"'««"  Mrs.  Vassall. 
No   no   Mrs   Vassall,  I  couldn't,  really." 
But  why?     U  IS  such  a  noble  work." 

oTtSd."^"' ^-^  "^^- ^"'--^ --"=X^ 

courlSJiv  ''"'VT'  ^^'"./'''^  °''^'=^  woman  said,  en- 
couragingly.        But  you  will  get  over  that      Manv  of 

e^xScf-"""™^"  ^"^^"^'^  «'  fi-t'  ''"t  with  a  h^t?e 

fl,  7"^^  that  you  will  not  count  on  me  for  Inythinir  like 
that,     said  Petrina.with  quiet  decision.     "I  haTe  no 
taste  at  all  for  philanthropy  " 
;;  This  is  less  a  philanthropic  than  a  religious  work  " 

But  I  am  not  of  your  religion  " 
Petrina  smiled  prettily  in  order  to  soften  the  effect 
of  her  words,  but  Mrs  Jassall  started  with  surprise. 

chur!h™;:r  '""^  ''"'''■  ^'°^'^'  '■  «^^*  y—  -t  a 

"No,  Mrs.  Vassall,  I  am  not." 
.u  *  u  f  "^"^  '"  Petrina's  voice  that  slightly  defiant  rin^ 

Ss  Va-Tal/r"^""^  affirmations  VdSs^rf 
Mrs.  Vassall  the  moment  was  dramatic.  A  Vassall 
who  was  not  a  churchman  seemed  as  impossible  as  a 
pope  who  was  not  a  Catholic.  i^^^-ioie  as  a 

"Then  you  are  a  Unitar— ?" 
86 


Let   Nof  Man   Put   Asunder 

eiZ>"    ^"'""^    interrupted,  hastily- "not    that. 

"Then  what  are  you?" 
ten^r'  lTt:^^'\^^'''  '"^"""'  ^"'J  "tterance  were  in- 

Sdna  ;:;-n'^^  £i  sz"''  ^"  ^-^'^^  -^^^^ 

•'I'hlt'r;:^        ^''''■''"^^"^'  '--"^  her  eyes. 

for  that  of  sa'/nUr-li/r    SSsta^ ^ 
she  now  seized  the  other  i-etnna  s  hands, 

you  hav^befn  ^e^:j:ut::^r,zt:f\,  s°^ 

influences  yofhave  noT  h  J  wu*'  ^°"  ^"'^  '•^^  ^ood 
as  we  see  il^yr^'f^f^J^^X^^J^^^' 
around  thr^'  ^T^'""  P=*""^'«  ^^^^  ^^ndered  slowly 
Ts  WiiT  ''"Tf  "°"^'y  ^"™'^hed  room  S 
sionatef; lor  t^^thh  „°  'P'fK^^^^'y'  aWst'pas- 
her  ignorance     Thi/  ."'^'^ /etnna  had  professed 

about  them.'-  ^'^^'  P^'^'^P"'  «"°'her  chat 

gr^e'th^aS;^  ^  """"l^"  °^  ''"'''  ^'^"P'^d  ^i'h  good 

"  You  wm  nn   *"™"f  °"  P"t  to  her  discourse, 
she  asked   trv^nl^^  wthout  having  seen  the  house?" 
she  Soke.'     "^  ^  '"  '^'^''  ^''  ^'""""n'  «nd  rising  as 
87 


Let  Not  Man  Put   Asunder 

"I  am  afraid  I  haven't  time  to-day,"  said  Petrina 
eager  to  be  gone.  remna, 

"  Then  yoii  must  come  st. .,  again.     Harry  will  want 
.ike  to  h^rie -' '^  ^"««-^  -^^'  changes^^yrw^S 

asS  ifstetrnis^m^t  ^'^"^^^  ""''''"  ^^'^^ 

you  taow°"  '''"  ^""^  '^"^  "'^^''-    ^'  '^  «"  °W  house, 
"But  I  shall  not  live  here'" 

uon     It  seemed  to  ask  if  any  one  were  'ikely  to  exnect 

S  thaMf 'so 'h  '""^  "^"^'  ""'^  «*  "^^  samitimno 
say  mat,  it  so,  he  was  wrong. 

;;i  have  my  own  house,"  Petrina  continued, 
centuries,      Mrs.   Vassall    said,  with    quiet    dienitv 

Tt"^wu^''  "fT  •=^"^^»*  t°  ^^'  elsewhere."  ^^■ 

1  hey  both  smiled  and  .said  no  more  about  the  matter  • 

but   the   gauntlet   was   thrown   down   between   them' 

le  Uie^^S'rH  °*"  T'"'  ^""^  '^P'^'^  the  pS 
to  d^rt  '"  ™''^"^-     '^•^""  P^*""^  "^g«I 

"What  display!"  Mrs.  Vassall  said, involuntarily  as 
Petnna's  eqmpage  dashed  away  "««niy,  as 

But  she  checked  herself  and  went  ujvstairs.     She  sat 
down  again  to  the  task  from  which  herVisitor  had  K 
her, but  she  did  not  sew.     She  mused  a  little-  then  sh^ 
cned  a  little;  and  (hen,  kneeling  down  a   her  b^sit 
prayed  a  long,  long  while.  ^®'^^' 

In  the  meantime  Petrina  was  rolling  back  towards 
Boston  in  even  less  good  humor  than  when  she  hJd  se 

«re  iJ:  r  °"1  "TT"'  *^  ''"^^tioned  the  ful 
ure.  She  foresaw  that  her  supremacy  over  married 
life  would  demand  a  struggle;  but  at  [he  tho^^S 

88 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asund 


cr 


CHAPTER  Vin 

Lihl'rpf  l,"*"  ^'^""^  ^^"''"''  ^  «  P^S^n  Puritan, 
i^echmere  had  spoken  more  wisely  than  he  knew     She 

was  pagan  by  inheritance  and  temperament-  neither 

rehgious  Ideal  nor  spiritual  creed  had  any  pkceTr^  her 

U.  bhe  had  neither  knowledge  nor  need  of  it  She 
was  aware  that  it  existed,  but  it  was  no  more  to  her 
than  a  love  of  landscape  to  a  man  bom  blind.  It  was 
«.ng  to  which  she  felt  herself  superior.  {Lit 
peal  to  her  was  not  more  practical  than  that  of  a  Wag- 
ner prdude  to  a  sailor  in  a  storm.  She  did  not  obj^t 
to  It,  she  would  never  have  argued  against  it-not any 
Tr^^  ^"  f''  ''■°"'''  ^«^^  ^^  ^  ""^d'^  against  doing 

s[,^n^  "I^  "'  '"f'j'"^  '■"''''•"S^  ^''""  °ld  tombs.  Shf 
simply  stood  apart  from  it,  as  an  indifferent  spectator 

.•„„»r^  °1/  when  other  people  presented  their  relig- 
ion as  a  pattern  to  which  she  should  be  expected  to  con- 

orm  that  Petnna  felt  irritated  against  it'^Mr.s  Va" 
sail  s  gentle  assumption  of  spiritual  leadership  aroused 

hat  sense  of  revolt  which  was  always  existei^t,  even  if 
latent,  in  the  Faneuil  blood. 

rylZFr^uT'^  separation  from  religious  systems  dated 
not  merely  from  the  parents  who  had  chosen  to  be  mar- 
ned  and  buried  without  sacred  rites;  it  came  from  far 
back  in  her  ancestral  history.  When  the  Barons  de 
1-aneuil  first  emerge  into  mediseval  light  they  are  al- 
ready in  conflict  with  the  Church.  For  more  than  two 
centuries  there  was  generally  a  Pierre  de  Faneuil  in  a 
90 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

natural  SlTtho'1.°r'       «/ ''«°«'n'"nicatio„.      t  wa« 

strange  that  one  of  the  raclboWer   h  "'°u-  ""'  **'°"y 
should  have  pushed  his  wnv  u""  '*'*  ancestors, 

himself  to  the  Ln^  aZC/Z^n^T  ''"'  ^"H 

P-ederaneuHhecai:£thert:/tl%l^^^^^^ 

hafbe^"  of  th"  ";iTt""'  V"'  '"■"■^'-  -  they 
could  give  spfrituTr;sT  "'^l^''"'^'' ^^----<^huscJs 
up  on  New  England  Si  wie  n'^r'^^"""'  "'°'  ^^--"-^ 
with  the  accept^  bdiefa  ^'n^J  £;'-''t"H''  ^^'r^ 
of  religious  thought  reaction^r!,  F^"}"  "'^'^  P^ase 

or  Unitarian,  waf  wdcTmed  fl^  "^  ^^'^"^^''Trinitarian 
ance  from  every  othcT  bur^^hr- 7"°""="*  ^'  «  '•^''ver- 
ten.  lasted  long"^    Knfe  httol^nTc  f  T  °"^  ^y^ 
ards  individualism  in  belief  Ir^w^        tendency  tow- 
peat-grandfather,  nomSalfvfnEn  ""''?•     ^''^^^'^ 
towards  rationalism  in  h  f  l!^  ^P'"^°l»''an,  inclined 
father,   nominally    a    UnLrfan"  T'"-     ^"^^  ^^"d- 
death,  an  avowed  free-thint  'H.rru'   ^'J°'^    "'« 
nothing.     Petrina  was  nothing    t"       Wh'*  ^^^  "^^ 
lous  instinct  had  ever  been  in  fL  f      .^^atever  relig- 
self  at  least  two  mLT  be  ^  he"  thn'^'  S^  •^- 
a  pagan-a  tolerant,  indifferent   slSt^vf     ^^^^^ 
gan-who  could  not  feel  enoimh  ;  ^'^Y.^c  -nful  pa- 

which  went  by  the  nime  TchrisT  "k    '"  ''''  ""^' 
to  them.  ^nnst  to  be  even  opposed 

But  she  was  none  the  less  a  P„r,( 

ways  of  thought  and  habits  „f  ^f  I  IJ'     *^'''''"'"  °^  ^^^r 

liefs  which  had  giv"n  them  birth       ""^  'T'^"^  ^^e  be- 

outlive  its  cause     If  she  "^?'  '"  ^"  f  «='  ^""  ""^n 

sne  v^as  a  pagan,  shr  was  a  seri- 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

nne  was  not  without  ideals,  and  was  strict  in  livine  ud 
o  them.  Aware  that  she  was  well  dowered  ir^liaut/ 
Jntelhgence  and  wealth,  she  looked  upon  herself  as  the 
steward  of  those  gifts,  and  held  hersTr^Sble  for 
their  use  ,„  doing  good.  But  her  notion  of^  W' was 
essentially  non-Christian.  It  was  part  of  heT^gan 
ism  that  for  the  poor  she  had  little  pitv,whne  hrZ 

from  the  fear  of  some  day  suffering  herself  Philan 
thropy  was  as  far  from  her  as  was  religion  She  iS 
on  and  wondered  when  she  saw  her  friends  worki^  ^n 
Associated  Charities  or  College  Settlements     £  TJ^ 

commended  by  the  Church.  Her  views  were  Cldly 
but  such  as  they  were,  she  held  U,em  eagerly  ^' 

hv^h^r"^  7'?'i  ^  "'•*  ^"^  ^'^  young  woman  placed 
by  the  hazard  of  descent  in  Boston;  and  haditbe^l^^ 
sible,  she  w^uld  not  have  chosen  her  destiny "S^r 

lstin:[i?aSd"?f  °'  '^"^^"  f  ^"  American!  sh^^s 
aisiinctly   and    before   evervthinir   pUo   a    n«»*     • 

^'  ""r^^^T'  ^'""-^  "^  P^-"t!d  states  w^TbuTfhe 
pedestal  which  upholds  the  statue.  Bostl  was  W 
statue;  Boston  was  her  counfrv     H„       /•  V- 

America  she  was  aware;  but  thev  we-rfnLt-- 
tellectual  or  social  tributaries     X'^gKeTrg^ 
or  richer  or  busier,  but  they  could  never  bfar  to  Boston 
anyjther  than  the  relation  of  Lyons  or  Liverjo,  to 

And  yet  this  civic  pride  was  neither  indiscriminate 
92 


Let   Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

II  »«!,  Ihc  only  „l„.|  .,„J  ri^i      ™"l'  '"  '^'""|« 

by;  she  was  not  content  that  it  shm.Mt.  ^  t  ™^  ^°"^ 
ful  contestant  for  co„,i.S'£t'^7^';,-"-^^ 
higher  possibilities,  they  were  greater  ruliU  ^ 

were  out  of  touch  with  the  vouno-  R^f  ?u"^  '°^'' 
and  the  single  a  great  tuKw^ffi  ^^'"■^^"  t^e  married 
even  a  barrfer  between  fho  e  wh„  .v  '  ""'^'^^  '^'''  "'^^ 
ried  and  those  Tho  were  martJ'' ^"^1"'^ '"^'•- 
The  father  had  little  s^Tal  co^f^t  and  m.ddie- aged, 
the  .other  almost  noritriSte^^  1^^ 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

was  a  Zc^So^'unet.  T  ^'  '^'^^-  ^here 
honor,  social  morals  anH  J^^  conscience,  social 
suffered  for ^heToie  Whaf ^"hI  ^""^  '"^""""^  ^ad 
be.  one  of  the  most  deStfull  r '  ^"'^  ""^^^  ^*'" 
was,  with    increase!  „ ''™'  .''°"eties  m  the  world 

factions,  for  want  :^f  aTanr'^"^'  """r^'"^  "P  '"^ 
centrate.  standard  round  which  to  con- 

satisfied  her  Puritan  tJ  "°/'T  "'^^^  ''''^«;  ^ut  it 
to  think  thLt  she  mi^ht  ^'"^'  for  beneficent  activity 
"good."     She  had  no  fi  ^''"""P^'^^  ^^^  amount  of 

-n  doubt  that  Se  way  .fourr™'"''  ^^  ^^^  '''^ 
went  on.  ^  '"'"'''  ''^come  clear  as  she 

she  never  questioned  the  f/r-t.iTfu"  °^  '''^"  «e^'  ^ut 
imp-^rtant  Is  a  nTaSed  womln  In'''  """'''  ''f  '"°- 
It  was  humiliating  but  true  that  «M      v  ""^'''  °"«- 

her  omvemta  lumrf^.l'n'  "'"'"?'  '"'«"""•"  "H 

•.ry  to  p,„,i„  (o  £„"t,"'"r  i';" "  "*  "«"- 

94 


Let  Not    Man   Put  Asunder 
ready  to  give  to  this  woman  who  was  taking  w 
There  was  a  brief  instant  when  l-f  uJ^  ^""  ^""^y- 
do  so.  °^  *"^n  she  had  meant  not  to 

littleness       '    ^  ''''  'emptat.on  with  scorn  of  her  own 

n  her  faslnonless  Wack  benrf^'"'^-  •  ^he  Wtle  mother 
jng  eagerly,  while  Petrina  al°^^fl  r  ^V^^^'  *«'k- 
back,  half  scornful  and  half  amused  arV"^i^'''  '^"«^ 
she  must  sit  at  Henry's  feet  Tndl  *^  **'°"^^*  ""^t 
an  attitude  of  service  '^^™'  ""^  ^tand  by  in 

eridy>ff  ;jrhrveT  ^«''"  ^^'-^  ^''^  -oth- 
Men  are  more  or  l^s  like  „  ^"'"°"  '^«''  »y  dear 

as  the  rest.     He  gefs  tcrrfbr""^^-^''  ^^^^  "^nryTs 
ready  p«,/,^^V-nbly^^^^^^^^^^       if  dinner  ifn't 

Vve  dine  at  eight  "  saiH  P»«  •  , " 
^  "Oh,  that  will  never  do '^M"^',/^"^"''^'y- 
hastily.  "Butyou  win  see'thJ!''-  ^^'T,"  ^^'^i^ned, 
^vith  a  faint  smile.  "He  t^kes  1."^°":^ 'V  '^'  ^^ded 
at  his  club,  so  that  when  he  c^l"  ^^  'he  hghtest  lunch 
g^y-  He  goes  to  his  lunch  at  one  T  V"  ^''^*'""- 
seven.  Seven  hours  without  Cd  ^^^'7/1.^'^''^ 
long,  my  dear.     You'll  find  ft  .  ■"'°"''*  ^  t"" 

digestion."  ''"^  ''  so,  especially  with  his 

wiSsliL'""  ''^  ''■^^^«-'  *-?"  Pelrina  asked 

But  Mrs.   Vassal.,  not^understanding  the  remark. 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

not  think  of  everything  in  a  Ut.^^i  cl'^ZZ' 
There  ,s,  however,  one  matter  on  which  you  nev"  ne^ 

eSfrbrSif  Sr'  ^'n^  "^'^  ^-"  -^ 

anH  UhL-i    i  He  ,s  particular  about  his  coffee 

and  hkes  It  strong;  but  I  am  sure  you  will  find  it  sim 

atteZ  hi:r'V°  ^"^1  *°  P'^"  ^-  o^e  meal  adll 
kLt^^m^lfnaSi;^^^^^^^^  A  young  hous^e! 

A  few  days  later  Mrs.  Vassall  wrote  again  ■ 
aboi   HX^:Ze^.*;^*-  -y  remarksV  other  day 

with  them  hitherto!  but  you  w  11  find  Mrs  Tu  *'°""^ 

Again  there  was  a  postscript: 
Would  you  not  likr  to  come  to  one  of  our  W^dn^^o 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

Petrina  kept  these  letters  to  herwlf     <!u„  „  i         i 
edged  them  curUy  and  locked  Sem  up.     Th^  p'S 
to  her  a  view  of  a  marriage  impossible  aTabsurd 
Wntten  to  her,  they  seemed  as  out  of  place  asTS 

^bert  "  The  ,  "'^  ^r "  °"  ^^'  '"^"^^e-  -th  Prince 
Albert.  The  senu-rehgious  postscript,  which  never 
failed,  was  meant,  she  perceivid^  to  be  the  gentle  drol 

vX"EtTu?r^^"T  '"l'  ^*°-  ofCuncZ 
veriett  heart,    but  the  very  futility  of  the  nrocess  in 

creased  her  scorn.     She  was  at  once  too  young  t~  i^^ 

patient,  and  too  proud  to  treat  Mrs.  Vassall's  mater^ 

an^eties  with  tenderness,  humor,  or  forbearance 

She  could  more  easily  have  done  so  had  it  been  possible 

to  conUnue  thinking  of  Mrs.  Vassall  as  a  So^of  no 

trusive  had  the  power  of  impressing  herself  on  S 
wiUi  whom  she  had  to  do.  Petrina  felt  her  to  be  n^ 
only  a  strong  personahty  in  herself,  but  a  personaUtv 
supported  by  world-wide  usage  and  belief.  If  the"™ 
to  be  any  struggle  between  them,  it  would  be  thaHf 
.ndmduahsm  with  duty,  of  uncon;entiona]ity  w  th  tra 
dition,  of  will  unfettered  by  restraints  coming  fTom  tl 

fTrinT      <=°n««ence  gmded  by  the  counsels  of  a  C^! 
tearing  expenence.  o  oi  «  ^  .^i- 

Moreover,  Petrina  came  to  feel  that,  had  Mrs  Vassall 
chosen,  she  cou  d  have  eauallpH  >,»r  ^L  u  ^^ssall 

*u„t  „u  1,  ,  ^"""ea  ner  on  her  own  eround  • 

FaneJl  dined,    T^^iTu""  "^^"^  P^*""^  «"d  Mrs. 

^..M^^aT"  ^^  "^^""^  ^"y  ^^"  '"  *e  country  a  high-tea  " 

said  Mrs.  Faneuil,  and  so  they  wore  gowns  of  onlv 

secondaiy  importance  in  their  wardrobes  ^ 

97 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
They   found    themselves    mistaken.     The   snadous 

to   tLf  i;''dXT'''V*^''""^^^  '^'•''^'^  '«  accustom^ 
lo  usell,  and  does  not  seem  to  say,  "ObservP  wV,=,#  =. 

success  taste  and  skill  have  made  of  me ''  ^ 

1  he  guests  were  few  but  important-Pepperells  and 

iult  afhrn"'"l^?u^  !!"^"  by  name,  anTwho  were 
equally  at  home  m  both  hemispheres.     The  Pepnerell 

wefe  m^  b^L-Tf  7'  '^"^'"'"'  P^'"-  acknowleS 
VassaT  2  t  fu"'*  ™°'"  «•'""'•««'  than  her  own 

l^Tl    *f  f    **,  "^'^  satisfaction,  was  the  simplest 
V:lKl"*arpHs:^  considerate  of  hosts;  buTE.' 
The  fona  mother  who  wrote  of  bacon  and  eggs  and 
toe  washing  of  colored  shirts  was  richly  drS^n 

^^steSL-:4SL^S£^ 

c«ved  her  guests,  not  with  the  sthnJI^Sety  ^'o^^ 
who,s  mafang  an  effort  to  entertain,  but  wi  h the  ease 

sl?  d):::?^"  t  '^'  ^'"■''*  *°  ^»>°">  *e  task  is  famihar 
bhe  directed  the  conversation  tactfully  anH  nlrnli 
unprceptibly.  I„  her  talk  there  was  n^  refoencTto 
rehgio,  or  Guilds  of  Friendship,  or  any  of  toe  ho^.l„ 
duties  in  which  her  soul  was  wranned  «?h»  *  u  ^ 
dotes  of  the  court  of  QueenTsar.K  wh'ch  "^^ilZ^ 
hadbeenmimster.and  added  reminiscences  of  theHouse 
Peptl^d^'h'Ld'b  ■"'"'"'  !^'  •'^'^  '°'°-  -hen  r 
vn-to  that  nr  ii  '^""""^  *°  '^"""-  She  talked 
with    that   pretty,  unconscious    brilliancy  which     as 

98 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

?urr„r  Vi»tll°  ^^  of  .o.  sen- 
was  acJston,id  totTch  stcesl^ir^^^^'J'"*  »»>« 
now,  but  she  had  had  m.^.h  •        '■«=«ved  rarely 

by.  Mere  ent^?fi£  n^t  ^J'^^^'^^  «  times  gone 
forehand  and  buSf  «tiX^  ^u  ^"^  *^^y  ^ 
among  the  trifles  of  Se  ^.S?  afterwards.  It  was 
a  niatter  of  no  consequence  st  ''^'  "^  ^^'»^«  ^as 
her  Wednesday  evS"  with  "l"^'"^  .'",V'*  °>°'«that 
off  with  satisfacUo^to  aU  ™!?  ''S  ^"^^  «^»°"W  Pa^s 
given  so  much  thought  to  anvd'^"^t'  ^^"^'^ 
at  Madrid  as  she  now  s^^  e  J^  '"^  ^*  the  Legation 
reception  given  to  the  Jp^       Vi  ^^'"  °«  "^^  annual 

On  the  di;  f^£nT?h.  -?°^  her  pansh  church, 
letter  which.  X'fettrt^^^^^  t 

to  h^"  r  cS  ScT  ^^e"sh  T  °"*  ^"""^  «- 
stay  to  luncheon  "  ^  ^''^"  *^P«=t  y°"  to 

ever  to  consider  in  ^^^^ ^^"^1  £"0^^."-" 


CHAPTER  IX 

It  was,  however,  a  satisfaction  to  find  that  Vassall 
was  unaware  of  the  correspondence  of  which  he  i^s 
the  subject  Between  Petnna  and  Mrs.  VasLll  there 
fi^  ?  ^"Ly"'l«'-«tanding  that  their  letters  were  coT 
hdential  Where  men  are  concerned,  women  have  an 
instmct  for  strategy;  and  a  husband  or  a  brother,  while 
nommally  doing  as  he  wills,  is  often  only  workiAg  out 
the  plans  which  well-meaning  female  r.  Stives  have 
made  for  him  ,n  secret.  Even  the  woman  who  is  treach- 
ThT  1  r  ^"^  Z  '°^^  °'  friendship  is  rarely  other 
than  loyal  in  matters  of  domestic  conspiracy  And 
hus  Petnna  while  conscious  of  a  growing  exaspera- 
Ss  thTsl'  ''  ^^^  '"^*  °"  *^'  subject  tow- 

For  in  her  opinion  Vassall  was  a  perfect  lover 
No  one  could  bear  himself  better,"  she  often  said. 
Corning  from  her  the  praise  was  high,  for  sne  .ncknowi: 
edged  herself  fastidious.     She  had  tasted  the  mingled 
pleasure  and  pam  of  refusing  many  suitors,  and  she 
had  made  mental  notes  about  them  all.     Love    she 
observed,  sits  strangely  on  the  average  AnglcvSaxon 
He  carries  it  as  awkwardly  as   the  ordinary  citizen 
wears  a  fancy  dress.     It    makes  him  self-conscious, 
unnatural    and  ill   at  ease.     For  its   expression   ou; 
language  has  few  words,  and  our  habits  fewer  gest- 
ures    With  such  poverty  of  ready-made  resources,  the 
Anglo-Saxon  lover  has  need  of  a  grace  and  a  tact 
which  are  sc;    _ely  native  in  order  not  to  be  grotesque 

100 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

one  who  coul.,    fitly  declare  hrll''^'^:'  '""•' 
than    one   man's  love-making  shnh^Hu  •"""■'= 

serious  consideration  untTha  hnf     .f  ''^?  S'^'"S 
further  thought  hv".^/-  ^  P"'  '""'«'='f  beyond 

stammerinro^Kr  tLwc^rr^  ^^^"^  I"'" 
There    was  a  time    when    Mrf  P         .^"nimonplacc. 

vulgar  ciashing  of  opinions  and  wills 

lOI 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

oi  pracucal  things.    Petnna  avoided  this  sort  of  dia. 

too,  that  she  was  entenng  into  Vassall's  life  rathar 
Oian  he  into  hers.  She  disliked  maW  pkns  S 
hini;  she  preferred  to  express  her  wisLel    She  Sk 

vors  ( v^ii  himself  had  said  so  many  a  time)  it  would 
tea  sufficient  career  for  him  to  ca^  h«  hiSo„s 

d^«1  y,  T  ""  ""^"^  *"  "^^  ^^  th^she  nev«  ion! 
dered  whether  or  not  he  had  desires  of  his  own     He 

C:  was  notte  of  "'"^  "  "^  "«=  ^'  '^^^  -« 
Jiere  was  nothing  of  any  consequence  outside 

I  am  going  to  startle  you,"  she  said,  smiling  one 
evening  early  in  the  new  year.  «nmng,  one 

_  "That  is  so  easily  done,"  he  replied,  "that  the  snort 
is  scarcely  worth  your  prowess  "  ^ 

^'Does  it  hurt?" 

"  Mit  siisser  Pein  only. " 

"•V^Vi  ^  "^  ^''^  "°  compunction?" 
_    Wot  for  any  such  arrows  of  wit  or  irony  as  you  have 

H^^yrw""^"^^^"-  ^'--^^o^o-rof^r 

"I  have  observed  t  in  you " 

"  As  a  virtue,  I  hope?" 

"As  one  of  the  qualities  I  like.    It  is  negative   h„f 
strong,  and  it  offers  me  a  background  "   ^         '     "* 

grouid  toa.l'a"L^e7."*°  ^°"  '  "°"''  '^""^  "^  «  ''^k- 
"  You  must  be  both.    I  expect  my  husband  to  stand 

102 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

before  me  as  the  object  of  my  favor,  and  behind  me  as 
a  foil. 

"^°  ^  '"  two  places  at  once,  like  the  Irishman's 
bird. 

"He  must  know  how  to  be  present  without  indiscre- 
tion, and  absent  without  being  missed.  Like  Char- 
ity, he  must  learn  to  bear  all  things,  endure  all 
things — 

"  And  hope  all  things,  I  presume." 

"Not  too  much,  otherwise  he  is  likely  o  be  disap- 
pointed. In  marriage  it  is  wisest  to  be  prepared  for  the 
worst;  one  is  then  quite  grateful  for  second-best,  which 
IS  the  average  of  what  one  receives." 

"Is  this  cynical  sentiment  the  shock  of  which  you 
warned  me?" 

"Not  at  all.  It  is  only  the  preliminary  to  its  inflic- 
tion. 

"Thai  may  I  beg  not  to  be  kept  longer  in  sus- 
pense? 

"  Are  your  nerves  steady?" 

^'  Not  very,  but,  all  the  same,  let  me  know  the  worst  " 
I  have  decided  to  be  married  on  a  Friday." 

Vassall  looked  at  her  with  smiling  incredulity  They 
were  m  the  hbrary  of  Petrina's  house  in  Beacon  Street 
The  room  was  large  and  luxurious.  The  walls  were 
well  lined  with  books,  and  the  only  picture  was  the  full- 
length  portrait  of  Petrina's  father— painted  by  Hunt 
A  few  marble  busts  stood  in  comers,  while  on  the 
tables  were  some  of  Barye's  bronzes.  A  cheerful 
wood  fire  was  burning  in  the  chimney.  Petrina  and 
VassaU  sat  before  the  bright  blaze,  while  between 
them  stood  a  table  on  which  were  the  after-dinner 
coffee,  hqueurs,  and  cigarettes.  Mrs.  Faneuil  had 
discreetly  left  them  to  themselves. 

"Why  on  a  Friday?"  VassaU  asked.     "I  thought 
103 


II  J 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

on  %"a;i-"^  '^'"^y  '^y-    Fi»t  of  all,  I  wa,  born 
;;Then  it  is  my  lucky  day,  too." 

day.'^'Yo:L'rf^eTtr£%Tf.---'  -  «  P"- 
and  the  day  by  thriakVat  A  f"  '?^  "^  «  F^day; 
a  Friday,  loo  "  "'  Ashuelot  last  autumn  was 

ward  and  took  hJ  hind  ^^''*"  '^«1  f"'- 

that  of  banter  to  t??„S  s^eri  "^"^  '°"^""»  ^^°™ 
was  at  her  best.  ^         senousness  m  which  she 

mother's  weXg^'/airon^Trid"/  "^  '^*"'^  -<» 
quite  explain  to  you  what  thU^  ^^f""  ^  ««'» 
would  probably  thfXitSiafBT".'  *°  "^-  ^ou 
remember  one's  mother  «I^       ^"^  when  one  cannot 

father,  their  memory  teCl  Ce  T '^  '^^»  °««'» 
serious  portion  of  one's  life  Mt  ?^  ^'^u?  '"  ^'^^  """^^ 
are  a  mingling  of  pride  in,i  ,.^7  "'"t"^'"'^  ^'"'"t  them 
having nolth^relirion  it^   ^^  i  °"""  ^'^'"'^  ^at, 

cannot  feel  for  my  nar^t tT^  ^  ,  T^  ^^"^^  '^at  I 
have  come  from  "kS  £  wTtf  *^'  "^,*  """^'^ 
matter  of  filial  duty  to  cLnlVfr  ^^^'^  ™^^^  '*  a 
be  wUh  the  important  moTeS  of  mylLT*"  ^^  "^^ 
104 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
"I  quite  understand  that." 

hnlirT/^""  '^  '"^^'*'  ""'  °"'y  •'■rth,  but  name  and 
honor  and  means  and  so  much  besides.  And  all  I  can 
do  for  them  ,,  to  th  nk  of  them,  to  commemorate  them 

theirs.  I  has  been  to  me  a  matter  of  something  more 
Uian  sentiment  to  think  that  if  I  ever  married  it  should 
be  upon  their  wedding-day. "  »nouia 

"  Which  falls  on— ?" 
" The  first  Friday  in  April." 
yassall  bent  his  head  and  kissed  her  hand 
There  is  something  else  I  wish  to  say,"  Petrina  went 
on  as  Vassall  raised  himself.    Then  she  paused 
Yes?    I  am  listening." 

of  Ze'  "  wi°"^"'^^V',f''I  °'^'^"''  ^'^  «  '^"''den  change 
of  tone.  We  have  talked  enough  for  the  present.  One 
step  at  a  time  ,s  the  surest  method  of  going  on  " 

"tZI  ^^i"l°"*f^  *?  ^^"^  °^  «"d  did  notinsist. 
^.Jt  ^^'^V^  ^P"''"  *»«  ^id  to  himself  as  he 


i  , 
i' 

I: 


CHAPTER  X 

"The  first  Friday  in  April,"  Vaasall  said  next  mo^ 
.ng  at  breakfast,  in  reply*;^  his  moX  *  ""°^' 

He  did  not  look  up,  but  he  was  conscious  of  her  eves 
fixed  upon  him  in  cold  surprise  ^ 

The  first  Friday?"  she  exclaimed.     "A  Fridav? 
Vou  mean  that  Petrina  wishes  to  be  marri^  on  a- J 

mS;t  '-e    ™'^«''"^'  H«"7l    You  must  have  maL  a 
misto^e.     No  giri  m  her  senses—" 

as^h^rTuikX""  "'"*  ''^""'"  '^^  "^'^  °^  ^"''«y 
"Extraordinaiy,"  was  Mrs.  Vassall's  only  comment 

"^dZ'ti-^'^T",''''  -""J-^ftera  slU  ^^ut: 
AM  isn  t  It— ?    Yes,  I  am  almost  sure  it  is. " 

She  rose  qmckly  and  left  the  room.    Vassall  euessed 

f    n  ^   ^^«"tered  she  was  examining  the  first  naws 
of  a  Book  of  Common  Prayer.  '^^ 

Vassall  rose  and  looked  over  her  shoulder 
Here  it  is,"  she  said,  her  voice  trembling  with  re- 
pressed excitement.     "April  5th,  Good  Friday     Yot 
can  t  be  married  on  Good  Friday  "  "J'-      r  ou 

ha^e'^ruUTft.""*'"  '^  '''^'^-     "^"^^  -"'d"'' 
"You  didn't  know,"  he  said  to  Petrina  after  dinner 

fall    thfr'  ''^^7u  ■'2'"  ^'''"'*  '^""^  ^^^^  Good  Friday 
falls  this  year  m  the  first  week  in  April?" 

Does  It?"  she  asked,  indifferently 

It  will  interfere,  therefore,  with  the  date  you  have 

106 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

fixed  for  our  wedding.    It  didn't  occur  to  me  till  mv 
mother  reminded  me  of  it. "  ' 

«Z^  ^^   *"^  *"^^  haughtily.    She  was  eon- 
f«H^     f\!!'""«'-  '*"'*  °'  ""«•*■    She  had  again  the 

!Zt«™!r  r"^**  "'"'  **'  'Snorant.  She  called  it 
^metimes  rehgion  sometimes  conventionality,  some 
Umes  provmciahty  but  it  was  too  indefinable  to  seizr 
hLTif  "T*"*  '•?'.  ^"  '"  Vassall's  mother,  with 
her  dehberae  asceticism  and  housekeeping  piety; 
but  ,t  was  like  a  mysterious  power  blocking  her  way 
It  seemed  to  «y,  "You  are  Petrina  Faneuil  and  nam- 

have  done  it  before  you.  You  .shall  not  sw^p  through 
^Zh^Z  '•'^'ir^  "'u''""'  °^'  y°"  "hall  cr4. 

beaten  track  of  travel,  pleasure,  and  youth.  In  her 
mgagement  and  marriage  she  was  striking  out  more 
boldly  It  was  therefore  a  rude  surprise  to  be  toldThI? 
even  the  nch  and  the  young  in  this  sophisticated  world 
are  less  like  nomads,  free  to  wander  at  will,  than  Uke 

fc?K  ^f'^fu^fu^^^  ^""  *"  Mrs.  Vassall  at  CW 
todge  th.»  fact  had  been  presented  to  her  from  so  many 
points  of  view  that  she  was  compelled  to  reflect  upon 
It,  but  It  was  always  with  renewed  determination  to 
force  circumstances  to  her  will 

It  was  this  very  reflection  which  caused  her  pres- 
ent anger.     Hitherto  she  had  chafed  in  secret     Now 

^„L^K  '^T^^  T  °^  ''^^''^-  She  was  told  that 
someUung  she  had  very  near  at  heart  could  not  be 

^rj^U  l^^  '^'  '^.^^  •"  *«  ™"d  ^°^  introsSion 

she  would  have  seen  that  never  in  her  life  had  shVbe^n 

107 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

so  angry  as  now.  Had  she  been  able  to  analv^e  her 
tZt!^"^^  '  would  have  perceived  that,  beneath  the 
r^^"lu^'^^'''°"  ^^""^  ^^^  ^l'°"ld  d°  Precisely  as  she 
pleased,  there  was  a  common-sense  sub-consciousness 
that  she  could  not  be  married  on  Good  Friday.  She 
knew  already  that  she  was  holding  a  positio^n  f^Tm 
which  she  shour  be  obliged  to  retire,  but  for  the  m" 

"of  noUoVtr"'  "^^  °^"'"™^  ""'  "^^  '^'='^™- 
"Why  should  it  make  any  difference'" 

seScojS.'  '^°°^  ^  "'"''  '"  'P"'  °^  ^""^  '^°'^  «»" 
"We  couldn't  be  married  on  Good  Friday,  you  know  " 

aTguM'  ^'  ^  "^^  '*^"°^  ^  ^^"^  *°°  °''^'°"«  ^°^ 
"Why  not?" 

" ^^'^.awse  we  couldn't.     It  isn't  possible." 
_  Isn  t  that  what  you  would  call  a  woman's  reason^' 
Perhaps,   but  it   sums   up  all   the  reasons   there 

HTc. 

"It  doesn't  appeal  to  me." 
_    "But,  dear  Petrina,  you  never  heard  of  any  one  be- 
ing married  on  Good  Friday." 

fcl'i^'r!  T^''  ^^^"^  ^^^  ^'""^'e  t°  observe;  but  I 
fancy  that  if  you  were  to  look  at  one  of  last  year's  pa- 
pers of  the  morning  following  that  day  you  would  find 
that  there  are  people  in  the  world  to  whom  your  new 
moons  and  sabbaths  mean  nothing  at  all  " 
^^^'^Doubtless  there  are  such  people,   but  not  of  our 

"Not  of  yours,  perhaps,  but  of  mine  " 

She  spoke  in  her  usual  low  voice,  and  looked  at  him 
with  a  smile  She  was  sure  of  herself  now,  and  knew 
tha^  she  could  carry  on  the  discussion  without  any  ill- 
bred  show  of  annoyance.  Vassall  himself  was  de^ 
io8 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asund 


er 


caved  by  her  calmness.  He,  too,  smiled,  not  suspect- 
11!^/  r  1'A',^  °^  ^^'  ^^^""e.  He  took  it  for  granted 
S  he'did  ^  ^^Planation  she  would  see  the  matter 

1  V^'^'^u  *^?'^  °^  ^^  cigarette  into  the  iire,  and 
looked  at  her  with  steady  gentleness.  Petrina  took  a 
hand-screen  and  shaded  her  face,  protecting  herself  less 
from  he  firehght  than  from  his  quiet  gaze 

I  know,"  he  said,  softly,  "that  you  don't  think  as 
Ti^^  "?  ma  ters  of  rdigion.  You  and  I  have  never 
talked  of  that,  and,  if  we  ever  do,  you  will  be  the  one 
to  begin.     I  want  you  to  feel  quite  free—" 

_"  Thanks.     I  am  not  accustomed  to  feel  otherwise  " 

I  want  you  to  feel  quite  free,"  he  went  on,  paying 

no  attenUon  to  this  shot,  "to  speak  on  the  subject  or 

o  be  silent.     Some  day,  perhaps,  as  we  grow  nearer 

together,  you  will  be  able  to  enter  into  my  leeUngs 

more  easily  than  now."  ^ 

Petrina  shook  her  head. 

U  •n^Tfl!"'"^'"  ^V'^S"^^*'  "'he  missionary  instinct 
lelf  at  laS"^"^  '"  "^"^  "  '^  showing  it- 

'' You  are  like  your  mother,"  she  said,  aloud 

Of  course  we  can't  help  hoping—" 
"Then  please  don't,"  she  interrupted,  with  an  im- 
patient movement  of  the  hand-screen.     In  the  act  Vas- 
sall  saw  that  .she  was  slightly  flushed 

"Please  don't,"  she  repeated.  "I  have  no  instinct 
ot  that  sort.  To  my  mind  religion  is  a  teste  like  any 
other-hke  a  love  of  music  or  a  fancv  for  collecting 
postage-stamps.  I  shall  never  share  it;  I  shall  never 
even  understand  it.  For  me  the  subject  is  of  no  im- 
portence.  Don't  try  to  force  it  on  me,  Harry  because 
It  would  be  labor  thrown  away. "  Because 

"I  should  never  think  of  doing  so." 
109 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

thriirF^L^S'^s^,-  °"  "^'""^  '^^  «-^  ^- 

fa...ai„sf|;:kTLT£3S^^^^^^         the 

women  TZie^lZZ^C^:^^.^^^  '^^"'^«' 
fasUons  for  the  con^Ig  "r  fa  tW,  r"^"^l\*" 
never  been  any  day  at  aU."  ^^  ''""""'y  '*  ^^^ 

''It  is,  at  least,  a  great  anniversary  " 

"NTdZ"'hJ'"'*  T""  !°>^^"  ^°'S°"«>  that." 

ta.*  liTSj'!!'  '"^y  "»'• .» 0.-  which 

"Not  always." 

"Not  always,  perhaps;  but  certainly  here      r.^ 

He  died  many  centuries  ago.     Your  grief  for  that 

occurrence  cannot  be  extreme     I  questi^tf    a,  the 

day  comes  round  each  year,  you  and  your  fdlow-be! 

Severs  pve  much  more  thought  than  I'^do  to  whitt 

no 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asund 


er 


supposed  to  have  taken  place  on  Calvary.  If  you  have 
any  emoUon  at  all  it  is  probably  fictitious  and  conven- 
Uonal;  but  I  venture  to  think  it  isn't  even  that." 

"The  significance  of  the  day  is  not  in  our  feeling 
but  m  what  we  consider   to  be  a  great  redemptive 

.u  ^/^u""'**  ^  '^"^''  ^'"'^  *°  f°"°«'  y°"  there  if  I  saw 
that  Chnstians  themselves  laid  any  emphasis  upon  it  " 
More,  perhaps,  than  you  think." 
"Very  likely.  I  will  not  dispute  you.  The  question 
IS  nothing  to  me.  I  am  trying  only  to  point  out  that 
while  the  day  I  have  fixed  for  our  marriage  is  for  you 
an  occasion  of  only  simulated  feeUng,  it  is  for  me  one 
which  touches  the  most  sensitive  fibres  of  my  life  " 

Nevertheless,  as  they  talked  on,  it  was  more  and 
more  mth  the  understanding  that  Vassall's  decision 
would  be  the  final  one.  Unconsciously  Petrina  found 
herself  speaking  as  though  she  had  given  way  It 
was  as  if  she  had  been  carried  down  by  a  strong  but 
gentle  tide.  She  was  so  little  used  to  opposition  that 
when  it  came  it  took  her  by  surprise.  She  even  al- 
lowed him  to  depart  without  assuring  him  that  her 
mind  was  still  unchanged.  He  did  not  suspect  that 
she  was  hurt.  A  man  has  less  often  than  a  woman 
the  impulse  to  look  behind  appearances.  Vassall  took 
facts  as  he  found  them,  and  went  his  way  homeward 
pleased  with  himself  and  her. 

"Poor  little  thing,"  he  thought,  "it  was  hard  for  her 
to  give  up  her  mother's  wedding-day,  but  how  pluckily 
andpretblyshediditi" 

But  a  little  later,  after  she  had  changed  her  evening 
dre.ss  for  a  robe  that  floated  and  feU  about  her  like 
-some  long,  lace-like  mountain  cascade,  Petrina  sKpped 
into  her  stepmother's  bedroom.  It  was  not  late,  and 
Mrs.  Faneuil,  also  comfortably  clad  in  something  soft 
III 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
and  gorgeous    like  a  sunset  cloud,  was  in  the  act  of 

I  didn't  know/'  Mrs.  Faneuil  replied,  calmly     "I 
ajn^^always   finding  your   belonging's   in   un'^ected 

"  He  isn't  my  property  yet. " 

"But  so  soon  to  be!" 

"That  remains  to  be  seen." 

"  The  fifth  of  April  will  not  be  long  in  coming  round  " 

^^  Did  you  know  it  was  Good  Friday?" 
rn.„  f        f_ra"°»sl."  Mrs.  Faneuil  exclaimed,  as  she 
ro.se  from  her  writing-table  and  came  where  Petrinn 
was  seated  before  the  fireplace.     "  I  nevlrt^ughrS^t' 

"No." 

"How  tiresome!" 

"Why?    What  has  it  to  do  with  us?" 

intoTnXr  '"  ""'  ^™-*"'"--    ^■•^-  ^--"  ^"k 
"It  has  everything  to  do  with  us.     You  can't  possi- 
bly be  married  on  Good  Friday  "  ^ 
"But  I  mean  to  be." 

"Then  there  is  no  more  to  be  said.     I  shall  be  at 
your  wedding,  of  course;  but  there  will  be  no  one  else 

This  was  a  new  idea  to  Petrina,  and  it  struck  her 
forcibly.  She  had  little  intention  of  being  r^S  in 
conspicuously.  With  no  vulgar  wish  for  displav  she 
Ind  rl^""  ^T!^'^  *at  anything  less  than  a  hand  ome 
and  representative  gathering  of  Boston's  best  would  be 
unworthy  of  the  nuptials  of  the  head  of  the  house  of 
Faneuil.     Besides,  ,t  was  thus  that  she  secretly  meant 

112 


Let   Not   Man    Put   Asunder 

to  i»^ugurate  her  social  reign.     Her  wedding  was  to  be 
^e  first  of  those  events  which  were  in  time  to  re-unite 
Boston  s  scattered  social  forces.     As  she  thought  over 
Mrs^aneuil  s  words,  her  annoyance  became  anxiety 
Do  you  thmk  many  would  stay  away?"  she  asked 
alter  a  few  nnnutes'  reflection. 

"I  think  every  one  would  stay  away.     It  would  be 
considered  most  extraordinary." 
_''!  shouidu't  mind  that  if  they  would  only  come." 
But  who  would  come?    Just  think.     Certainly  the 
Hammerfields  wouldn't  be  there." 

"I  could  do  without  their  benediction." 

Nor  the  Lougswords." 
^1 1  should  be  sorry  for  that,  but—" 
"You  could  do  without  them,  too?" 
"Precisely." 

*u"tr"'*  ?u"  J^""'*^  ^°  '^'*°"*  t'le  Skeffingtons,  and 
the  Marchbanks,  and  the  Fenboroughs,  and  the  Rip- 

cl  w""^*     ^"^  ^°"'  ^'™  *=°""''"S  only  the  Epis- 

"3ui  Ihere  are  hosts  of  Unitarians  to  whom  one  day 
would  be  the  same  as  another." 

'"  1^"^^  ^°"  ^?  '"^""S-     ^  ^™  a  Unitarian  myself  " 
Mais  St  pen. 

ih'^l  ^"'  ^  y°" '^'^^'  ''"t  «ti"  enough  to  know  how 
they  feel.  For  all  those  ecclesiastical  days  thev  are 
getting  to  be  as  bad  as  the  EpiscopaUans.  I  thfnk  it 
i^  quite  nght,  too  I  remember  distinctly  that  in  the 
Newbury  Street  Church  last  year  they  kept  Gooq  Fri- 
day on  the  Sunday  before,  ana  on  Easter  day  the  pul- 
pit was  banked  with  flowers.  No,  there  wouldn't  be 
even  a  Umtanan  at  your  wedding,  Petrina.  You  may 
take  my  word  for  it,  and  there  is  nothing  so  dreary  as 
an  empty  church." 

'■  But  I  am  not  going  to  be  married  in  a  church." 
"  113 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

"Do  you  mean,"  she  said,  speaking  slowly  and  with 
rag,c  emphasis,  "that  the  service  is%o  be'^performld 
in  a  parlor,  under  a  floral  bell?" 
Petrina  shuddered. 
'No,  not  that." 
"Then  what?" 

•'  I  haven't  decided  yet,"  she  faltered 
I  am  glad  of  that,"  said  Mrs.  Faneuil,  drvlv     "  If 
you  have  not  decided,  there  is  still  hope  "       " 

all."   ^^^  "°'  '"*^"'  *°  ^^''^  any  reUgious  service  at 

Mrs   Faneuil  sank  back  again  into  her  chair  with  a 
dramatic  air  of  weariness. 
"You  think  of  being  hand-fasted,  perhaps?" 
Petnna  did  not  reply. 

r  il?'"  ^°Z°f  ™^'*"  *°  ^°  ''^f*""^  «  i"s«ce  of  the  peace? 
Wr  dlst's  "  ""'''"'"  '""''  '''P^"""^  ^™°"S  ">- 
"  I  haven't  thought  out  the  details. " 

So  I  should  suppose." 
"I  want  to  be  married  as  my  mother  was.     She  mus' 
have  been  absolutely  sincere.     She  would  have  at  her 
wedding  nothing  in  which  she  did  not  beheve  " 
1  remember." 
"She  would  have  no  meaningless  ceremony   she 
would  take  no  self-insulting  vows:  she  refused 'even 
the  empty  symbolism  of  a  wedding-ring  " 

"I  can  tell  you  all  about  it.     I  ^as  only  a  young 

girl  at  the  tune,  but  I  had  my  wits  about  me  "  ^ 

1  want  to  do  as  she  did,  not  merely  because  I  hold 

her  opimons,  but  because  I  cherish  her  memory  " 

Certainly,  dear.     You   are   wholly   right.     But   it 

ought  to  be  within  the  limits  of  the  practical" 
114 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
"But  I  see  no  insunnountable  difficuJty— " 

Spectes  and  the  first  Agnosticism.  She  wa^  as  ^ettv 
as  a  picture  and  as  clever  as  Margaret  FuUer  BeforP 
she  was  married  her  little  group  of  oUoSs  M 
upon  her  as  the  aposUe  of  a  new  movement     I  doni 

r^ira/"atdttutsr  lir  •  ''^''^  -- 

iaft^Lirth^^-^X^tSSTi^J 

hLd     T^f '^"'"^  ^^^  '"°^"  ^'y  hurled  them  a^your 
e^gaeS'  ""tIT^u   ^°' "'  '^"^  ""^  ^^en  they  Sme 

rsStesiisinn^^iva^^^^^^^^ 
^n?^^^^^r^^--%t^^ 

^rnestness  was  gone.     The  worst  wL  tha  ,  Ser  to 

K^f  f  """Z  r'  ""^^  ''«=«'»«  «ke  anybSy  else 
th/n  ,W.*  ^""^  ^""^"'^  independence  of  man  and 
then  couldn't  bear  your  father  out  of  her  sie^t  Sh. 
wouldn't  say  the  word  obey  when  they  were  marlJj 
and  then  simply  lived  to  carry  out  his  order^  "shT^ 
"5 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

fused  a  wedding-ring,  but  the  one  he  gave  her  after- 
wards never  left  her  finger,  and  she  wore  it  to  her  grave  " 
Her  convictions,  however,  didn't  change  " 

whic^°'in^h^''^^"°'-  .F"^  ^^'y  ^^'^  convictions  for 
IL  *l  u°!f  .'•^^^^''^  P^Pl^  "'h°  held  them  sup- 
posed  hey  had  to  fight  It  was  the  part  of  courage  to 
stand  to  one  s  guns.     But  who  cares  about  such  ideas 

^'Many  people,  I  fancy." 

"Yes  but  not  you,  nor  I,  nor  Mr.  Vassall,  nor  any 
of  our  friends.  The  same  questions  r-ay  still  be  burn- 
ing in  remote  country  places  and  in  the  women's  clubs 
but  not  here  m  Beacon  Street,  nor  among  people  like 
ourse  ves.  "They  may  deal  with  highly  important  sul^ 
jects  for  aught  I  know,  but  they  are  terribly  vieux  ieu  " 

Petrina  shuddered  again.  She  had  not  seen  the  mat- 
ter in  this  hght  before. 

"I  always  meant  to  be  married  as  my  mother  was  " 
she  said,  for  want  of  other  argument.  "Do  you  re- 
member what  it  looked  like?" 

^^"^^^■1"^°?^!  ^^^'  "  ^^^  '"  a  hall.  I  was 
there  w:th  my  faUier  and  mother.  I  distinctly  recall 
hat  it  was  very  brief  and  businesslike.    George  Cur- 

f  'J  fu^°''"^'^*~^''^^"'^  Harrison's  friend-per- 
formed the  service,  if  service  it  could  be  called-  and 
there  was  some  sort  of  magistrate  to  make  the  ceremony 
legal.  Your  mother  wouldn't  have  bridesmaids  be- 
causethey  implied  that  a  woman  was  weak  and  needed 
attendance;  neither  would  she  wear  a  veil,  because  the 
veil  was  tvpical  of  woman's  shyness  and  seclusion 
bhe  was  bewitching,  however,  in  a  plum-colored  walk- 
ing costume  made  with  an  overskirt  and  panniers  ■  and 
she  wore  a  plum-colored  turban.  What  the  occasion 
lacked  was  something  sentimental  and  picturesque  You 
may  spend  all  your  taste  and  energy  on  a  function  of 
il6 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

that  kind,  and  yet  it  will  always  be  gaunt  and  colorlesf 
as  compared  with  a  wedding  in  a  church." 
"But  when  one  doesn't  believe  in  churches?" 
"I  understood  that  Mr.  Vassall  did." 
"Oh,  yes,  he — " 
"  He  doesn't  count,  perhaps. " 
"He  would  naturally  do  as  I  wished." 
Petrina  said  this  boldly,   but  with  an  unpleasant 
twinge  of  doubt. 

"  In  that  case  you  have  only  to  make  your  own  plans 
You  may  count  on  my  aid  in  carrying  your  wishes  out. 
Hut  if  you  want  anything  like  a  real  wedding—" 
" I  do  want  that,  of  course." 

"Then  I  should  abandon,  if  I  were  you,  all  thought 
of  going  back  to  the  early  seventies,  or  of  being  mar- 
ried on  Good  Friday.     I  can't  yet   understand  how 
Henry  Vassall,  with  all  his  Episcopalian  connecUon 
could  have  agreed  to  the  proposition  " 
"He  didn't." 
"Then  how—?" 

"I  snail  have  to  insist.     That's  all." 
Mrs.  Faneuil  sat  for  .some  minutes  looking  at  her 
stepdaughter  in  silence. 

"Do  you  know,  Petrina,"  she  asked  at  last,  "why 
a  wedding  is  Uke  a  quarrel?" 
"Is  it  a  riddle,  mamma?" 
"Yes,  and  home-made." 

'Tm  afraid  I  shall  have  to  ask  you  for  the  answer" 
Because  it  takes  two  to  make  it.     It  is  a  riddle  with 
a  moral. 

"Pointed  at  me?" 

"Straight.  You  talk  of  getting  married  as  though 
you  were  the  only  person  concerned.  You  .seem  to  for- 
get that  there  is  to  be  a  bridegroom  who  may  have 
wishes  of  his  own." 

117 


Let  Not    Man   Put  Asunder 

"J  don't  forget  it     He  has  many  wishes,  but  they 
can  ^     le  expressed  in  one."  ' 

"Which  is  to  please  you,  I  suppose?" 

H JJ  •    *u     *■  V""''  "nything  of  the  kind     Your 

Ue  IS  Uke  the  bishop  of  whom  it  was  said  that  a  litZ 
child  could  lead  him-the  way  he  wanted  to  go  W? 
try  any  experiments  on  him." 

"Practically." 
...r/''*'".  .'^°"''  '"^'*'  "P°"  "■     I  question  the  i^ood 

surely  be  repugiiant  to  his  mother,  if  not  to  him  " 

But  1  am  not  marrying  his  mother." 

Oh  yes,  you  are.  There  is  a  sense  in  which  vou 
S=f  Se^m^.^."'^  ^^-^'^^  Va^^ltni/:; 
"Don't,  motherl" 

tni'th  ""p*^^  ^'■°^"'  f"^  *='•'''''  ''"*  I'"*  *e"'ng  you  the 
truth.     People  cannot  marry  to  themselves  alone     As 

M^  Va^^r"'  "^"""""y  i«  'Host  inclusive.     When 

non^if  fu       ,    °**""-'^'''  ^n''  Shall  refuse  myself 
none  of  the  pleasures  of  the  position.     In  ma^^nJ 

'Oh,  mamma,  spare  mel"  T>Mrir,a  ,.„-„j     •  • 
beginning  to  mo'verer:ou:iy  a^SXT.^"^'"^  ^^"^ 
1  may  spare  you,  but  your  future  relations  won't 
f  you  choose  to  marry  among  them,  you  g"ve The^ 

yL^^^X'T^''  l™™  5^°"  ^  <=-*«■»  Mn^  of  conduct 
^ou  mustn  t  begin  by  deliberately  running  counter  to 
aU  their  chenshed  prejudices  and  pet  convittior"s  " 
ii8 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Pelrina  came  up  behind  Mrs.  Fancuil  and  slipped 
her  arm  over  the  elder  woman's  shoulder 

takinK  the  trouble  to  have  a  stomother  who  can  be  so 
nice  and  who  ts  so—" 

"I  will  excuse  you  the  other  adjective,  my  dear  I 
never  cared  for  antithesis  of  that  kind.  But  you  see 
again  that  it  is  the  effect  of  marriage.  When  I  took 
your  father,  I  took  you.  Now  we've  got  to  make  the 
best  of  each  other. 

Petrina  stooped  and  laid  her  hot  cheek  on  her  moth- 
er s  soft  brown  hair. 

"Well"  she  said,  wearily,  "I  suppose  I  had  better 
break  off  my  engagement." 

"Perhaps  that  would  be  wiser,"  Mrs.  Faneuil  as- 
sented complacently,  rising  as  she  spoke. 

•There  never  was  any  one  quite  so  unsatisfactory 
as  you,  mamma  Petrina  cried,  clasping  her  hands  be- 
hind  her  mother  s  neck  and  looking  down  into  her  eyes 
That  wasn  t  at  all  your  cue.  You  should  have  op- 
posed me  Then  I  would  have  broken  it  off.  Now  I 
sha  n  t.     I  shall  go  on  with  it." 

"There  is  one  thing  I  should  certainlv  do  in  your 
place.  "  j"»« 

"Something  unpleasant,  I  suppose,"  .said  Petrina 
moving  away  again.  reinna. 

"I  should  go  to  bed  and  try  to  sleep  myself  into  a 
healthy,  conventional  frame  of  mind,  and  get  up  in  the 
morning  thinking  like  other  people." 

"But  I'm  not  like  other  people." 

'.''  ^"iK""  *^  P"y-     ^*'^  y""  "^^^^  defect. " 
And  I  hate  the  conventional." 

"Though  there  is  nothing  that  suits  you  so  well 
The  convHitional  is  only  whf  ■  the  united  good  taste 
of  mankind  has  found  to  be  the  most  becoming  " 
"9 


Let  Not  Man   Put   Asunder 
"m°*  '?  ""  "^y^"*'  perhaps." 

One  can  see  that  you've  always  had  it." 
*e«a  W-"""""^'  ""'  '"«'  «-  *"  ^'ou.    Et  main- 

Mrs.  Faneuil  pointed  to  the  door     Pn»,.„=  i       i.  j 
■n  Mte  of  her  vague  feeling  of'dJsZtert     ""  '""^''"' 

^  Uh,  If  you  want  to  be  vulgar—" 

"I  shall  be  anything  that  gives  me  the  fr«Hlo,„  „f 
my  own  room.     Besides,  vulgarity  in  Fre^rh  i 
without  some  distinction."  ^         ^''*  "  "^^" 

k  L^'l*/^'  """""^  °"«  sees  on  the  French  stao.,^;ii 
bred,  but  immensely  chk  "  *-rencn  stage— ill- 

ever^iuHnVga ""  ''^'""^'  '"^  "  *°  ^--J^'  -^at- 

"  If  you  mean  that  for  a  hint—" 

"I  mean  it  for  something  a  great  deal  stronger     I 
am  sleeping  on  my  feet,  and  if—''  ^^'^onger.     I 

But  Petrina  laughed  again,  and  was  gone. 


CHAPTER  XI 

A  FEW  days  later  Petrina  announced  to  Vassal!  »hat 
,?4Jf'*^?"*  another  date  for  her  wedding-day 
rhe  Thursday  after  Easter,"  she  said 

Va««nT  •*•? f  "I"^"  T"  '°'^"'  ^y  ^^'^  d'-'^'"'""  'hat 
thelhange  '"  ""'  '°  ^"^  ^"  '"""^"^  ^"' 

"As  you  think  best,  of  course,"  he  assented      "Mv 
'^^f^u^'  »  'hat  it  should  be  nearly  a  week  later  " 
All  things  considered,  it  is  the  day  that  su.ts  me  " 
Petrina  said,  untruthfully.     She  was  trying  hard  to 
persuade  herself  that  the  decision  was  noUof  cii  u,x!^ 
tier.       I  naturally  want  to  take  everything  into  con- 
sid«rat.on,  so  as  to  offend  no  one's  prejudicL." 
Inat  IS  so  like  you,  dear." 

l/?."  ?^ii^"*'"T' "^,'^'  "  '«  n°t  at  a"  "ke  nie. 

IC.  -t  only  because!  think  that  under  the  circumstances 

It  IS  wisest.     But  it  will  be  no  precedent.     Tfter  our 

marriage  I  shall  expect  to  be  free  to  follow  my  own-" 

Of  course,  of  course,  dearest,"  said  Vassall,  hastily. 

borne  days  ago,  if  you  remember,"  he  went  on,  "you 

told  me  you  had  other  things  to  say  in  this  connection  " 

Yes;  but  I  have  already  talked  them  over  with 

mamma,  and  I  think  I  need  not  trouble  you  with  thTm 

What  church  would  you  like  to  be  married  in^'  ""• 

int,I^?1^  yielded  all  the  points  on  which  she  had 

Sr  wld  t  ^™-.  ?^  ™^'''=  ^"  P'«"«  f°^  a  wedding 
that  would  be  just  hke  any  other  girl's.  This  wai 
the  end  of  a  chenshed  sentiment;  but  she  wu«  begi^! 

121 


Let  Not   M 


an   Put  Asund 


er 


nmg  to  learn  that  the  taste  of  life  could  be  unpleasant 
She  was  too  reasonable  not  to  see  that  her"dea?  wert 

understand  that  Vassall  was  not  to  blame  therefor 
She  had  concealed  from  him  the  views  on  the  mS°  e 
serv.ce  she  had  expressed  to  Mrs.  Faneuil;  anTZlhl 
had  a  feeling  that  it  was  his  fault  if  thos;  vrewrcouYd 

no  dSubrbuMh"'     ^^'  '"^^"^  '^'"^  "f  that  she  had 
of  f h°,t   •  ^T  ^""^  "°  «'t^"'«'n  w  her  love-none 

of  that  impulse  towards  self-surrender  which^kes 
passion  noble.     Altruism  is  a  Christian  quality    and 

ySTLTr  "  ?^""-  ^""^  ''-^  "^^^n  tra^nTriot  "o 
yield  but  to  exact;  not  to  minister  to  others'  happ"Ls 
but  to  have  others  minister  to  hers.     She  was  no   se^?' 

H^r  Punan  tin         T^  «  husband's  in  her  own. 
teractrf  bv  bi        ^'^  ^""^^"^^  self-torture  was  coun- 

This  was  not  precisely  pride;  it  was  only  the  right  of 
That  she  should  be  checked  in  details  was    there- 

lru.dTv?h"f.  tvr  fhc  ir  f-  Fr-^' 

nund  than  hers  waf  at;j^^crci'-:,trl3S 


Let   Not   Man    Put    ^.su:ider 

astonishment.     It  was  a  <!r.rt  ^f  i 

not  understand ;  iS  ^:1S  ^,  ^^  f  -^ 

tion.  and— return  -       ^-  •■^^'■'  q"es- 

had  even  blen  anTmtrL'^'"ll?  everything.  There 
set  his  wishes  asfde  Thts  plTatl^'u"  ^'^''=''  ^^e  had 
vulgar  vanity  of  havin,,  .   ^  J  ^  •""'  ""*  ^^m  the 

satiffaction  SslngS!  flowtt"  T""''  ''"'  '^"^  t*''^ 
ural  course  ^  ""^  '"'°  »*«  ^^wth  and  nat- 

JferttoXu^SViS^V^^^^^^ 

Vassall  told  her     He  hlV,  ^        r^'*""^  ^^'^ed,  and 

ney.  quite  to  tEaste  ofte  stuTnToV-  '''"">'  ^°"^- 
thropic  affairs.  Thev  were  fn  K  •  V'^  ''"'^  P'^''^"" 
they  should  see  prison  refon,  .  ^^'^  ^*  ^'™'-^'  ^^ere 
lines.     They  would  thin  T'^^  ""*  ""  practical 

Cincinnati.  srioJianftr  \^''^'^^°'  Milwaukee, 
of  the  Middle  Wes'whfr.  "^^'-/'nportant  cities 
be  presented  torthL^ZTZ"'"^'  ^''"^'^™^  "°»W 

herSd;tut  sheSdTnou^H^^'jr'  ^"  ^l^^* --  - 
to  see  that  it  must  bel  S^'  ^?'^"  ^^^  '^e  tact 
ly  accepted  her  de  ision  to  spend  th"*'^""''-""'*  ^"^t" 
the  summer  at  some  of  th/f!  v       uf^^"*"  '"  London, 

autumn  in  maldng  vtils  afF^^^  ''"*'"''  ""^  "»^ 
The  winter  would  see  them  bafkfnR  ?""*'-y-houses. 
some  objection  on  the  ground  of /,f  ?°''™-  "«  "lade 
his  work,  but  Petrina'sSl/         ^°"^  ^''^^"'^^  f™™ 

"You  will  have  no  ne^  to TwntTr'^^  ''™- 
majestically;  and  he  ^n  thl       ^     °^  "'^*'"  ^^  said, 

of  -ing  L  plant\rh'edSr:ouM'  "ff"" 
more.  <»Mae,   could  protest  no 

Nevertheless.  Petrina  was^not  wholly  .satisfied.    Th, 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

knowledge  that  there  were  radical  differences  between 
them  gave  a  sense  of  incompleteness  to  their  love    rlere 

ant  than  she.     The  fact  that  they  were  not  whollv 
agreed  was  one  which  she  resented     As  Go^  Fridav 

h^r  ^r.'^ly'''  "'^^'^'"^  ^^y  ^"""^  round  she  found 
herse  f  dwelhng  much  upon  the  subject. 

Why  could  I  not  have  been  married  to-day?"  she 

mused.     "What  is  this  power  which  prevents  me 7    I 

owe  1  rio  allegiance  and  I  scorn  its  creed,  and  ye     t  has 

cnppled  my  freedom  to  do  the  thing  on  whicJ^l'Tr! 

She  sat  in  the  large  window-place  of  the  library  anH 
ooked  out  upon  the  Charles.     The  river  wa.s  broad  a^d 
blue,  and  dancing  under  the  strong  spring  sunLht 
far  away,  Corey  Hill  was  showing  tints'of  gVen      Th 
mormng  paper  had  fallen  from  her  lap  to  the  floor     A 
smal  paragraph  therein  had  set  her  brooding     It  wal 

here^M'litrf  i.*f'  *°"^ht,  "when  he  might  be 
J     U  "'^  ^^^^  °"'"  marriage  has  been  nost 

oTsfde.  "t^'is It?^'  ^"°  ^^^^^  ^^  --  ^'-'-rme 

^u^u  ^°ft  "^"^^^'-^  away  over  the  sparkling  river 
She  heard  Mrs.  Faneuil  enter,  but  did  not  spelk  nor 

hersSagair-'Dick'^r't.''''''  ''''  ^^^P-other  asked 
nerseu  again.  Dick  Lechmere  would  say  that  her 
face;.s  m  one  of  its  Egyptian  moods.     It  K.ffles  even 

wil^n  R.ra  sTd'  '^^"^  '""^"^  '-'y'  «~^" 

"Certainly  not;  but  why?"'    As  Mrs.  Faneuil  snoke 

she  sat  down  to  her  desk  and  began  to  sort  her  pa-rs 

124  '^'^    • 


Let   Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

"I  am  going  to  church." 

"To—?" 

"Yes.    It's  Good  Friday." 

"Oh,  is  it?  I  thought  we  had  Good  Friday  some 
weeks  ago.  No,  no ;  that  must  have  been  Ash  Wednes- 
day.  1  never  can  remember  these  Episcopal  days  from 
one  another.  Of  course,  it's  Good  Friday  though  be- 
cause  you  wanted  to  be  married  to^lay.     Well,  I  should 

f"'^  T^T  ^°"-  J^^'"'  *°"'*  •'^  '"^"y  there,  because 
•ood  Friday  is  only  coming  into  fashion  at  the  New- 
bury Street  Church.  There  are  so  few  High  Church 
Unitarians  m  Boston  I  Yes,  Petrina  dear,  if  it  is  Good 
i-nday  I  should  go  to  church.  Some  one  is  sure  to  see 
you  and  give  me  the  credit  for  it.  And  just  before  your 
wedding,  tool  It  would  look  rather  feeling  " 
ij  u^^*?"^"'®"''  "°*  to  Newbury  Street,  but  to  the 
old  church  where,  she  felt  sure,  Vassall  and  his  mother 
would  be. 

She  entered  late  and  seated  herself  in  a  corner  near 
the  door.  She  was  afraid  of  seeming  conspicuous  and 
out  of  place,  but  there  were  so  many  coming  and  going 
that  no  one  noticed  her.  Through  a  rift  in  the  congr^ 
gauon  she  saw  Vassall  farther  up  the  church,  and  on 
the  other  side.  His  profile  was  towards  her  and  he 
was  hstemng  with  attention.  Involuntarily  Petrina 
turned  from  him  to  hear  what  was  being  said 

"And  when  the  sixth  hour  was  come  there  was  dark- 
ness over  the  whole  land  until  the  ninth  hour.  And 
at  the  mnrt.  hour  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  say- 
ing, £,  tot,  Eloi,  lama  sabachthani?  which  is  to  say  be- 
ing interpreted.  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast  thou  for- 
saken  me? 

As  the  words  rolled  down  to  her  she  was  conscious 
of  a  cunous  thnll;  it  was  not  of  sympathy;  it  was  not 
of  repugnance;  it  was  rather  the  shock  of  being  in  the 
125 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asund 
presence  of  dread  ideas  to  which  : 


er 


to  that  momej  wLrP  f,!:  ^^P«"«<^e  we  now  come 

and  even  the  angesveHhS/r"  '"l^  "°  ^"«'-' 
We  have  goneS  ffim  fro  '  r  .^  ""'"*  "^"^  ^'"g«- 
ment  seat^.!,^  t  """."<""  Gethsemane  to  the  judtr- 
"leni  seat,  and  from  the  judement  'u^i  tr.  r„i  ,,, 

have  seen  Him  hfted  nn  tv.»  r  ,     ^^'^ary.    We 

we  must  all  stand  back  ^^?e  H.         ^"^  Z^''-     ^°^ 

i!..*'  My  God,  ,b„.* "i  fci2"„J;~„;»s- 


Let  Not   Man    Put  Asunder 
iandv^"!/;?""^''  ^^^  !,^'''  ^^'  d^^kness  over  all  the 
tasted  that  which  To  nfh  "•     ^  ""^"^  «°"'  had 

Petrma  hstened,  fascinated  and  yet  renelled      Sh„ 
did  not  trv  to  unHprotar^j      u  ■^       '<:P'-iiea.     bne 

she  shrank  from  tWs?H'      f"  ''^'  '""'"""^  °"'y  that 

0.1,™  ..to,i.:ii".„f  ToS  ""*■  *'  "'•■'"■' 

How  can  he  believe  it?"  she  asked      "H„.„ 

witchment  of  the  will?"  °'  "  '*  ""'^  ^"'"^  b^ 

Presently  they  began  to  sing.     Petrina  fo.mH  .., 
place  and  stood  up  with  the  rest  "*'' 

"Oh   come  and  mourn  with  me  awhile, 
And  tarry  here  the  cross  beside; 
Oh   come,  together  let  us  mourn  • 
,|esus,  our  Lord,  is  crucified."  ' 

tl'^n^hk^sSritSsS'"  tT-  '^'^r  ^-^^  ■" "  --- 

w./a  sober^^ntt^t  w^KteTlS  ffa^of 

rb^L^JirirenT  x^/"4'^" 

a  neighbor  of  her  own  in  LcoX't    ;r  ''^f  ?' 
rnent  of  middle-aged  propriety      WW  l"'''"*'- 

today  wh.ch  seem'ed  ii  l.S  abSisTA'ss'X^ 

'  inr  away  a  young  architect  had 
127 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

just  come  in  She  had  once  or  twice  sat  beside  him  at 
dinner  and  thought  him  a  pleasant  lad.  What  was 
there  about  lum  now,  serious,  elevated,  indicate  of 
stura"lidr''  do  something  better 'than  i'ss'the 

noVknow  ThV  T^'  '''^'  ^*  *^^'^^  P^^rina  did 
not  know.  The  wailmg  air  went  on,  and  she  cast  her 
eyes  again  upon  the  words:  na  sne  cast  her 

"0  Love  of  God  I    O  sin  of  man  I 

In  this  dread  act  your  strength  is  tried- 
And  victory  remains  with  love; 
For,  Thou,  0  Love,  art  crucified." 

The  .4m«M  came  like  a  long-drawn  sigh.      The  mul 
vi"st,f"j"  1°^"  ^"^  ^i'^"t  P^^y«-     Petrina  could  si 

liT^li  rl'''^-}''  ^^'^  ^^^^«'  hi«  hands  clasM 

his  attitude  devoutly  simple.     She  had  seen  him  thus 

before,  and  the  act  had  touched  her.     That  wrwhen 

he  was  still  not  hers.     But  now  that  he  had  b^oml  her 

own  she  could  no  longer  be  so  dispassionate     ShTto^ 

knelt  down,  but  not  to  pray.     Her  cheeks  were  h^' 

-^A^ntJ""*"**  '°  ^^"^  *em  in  her  hands  ' 

All  this  comes  in  between  him  and  me,"  she  thought 

He  shuts  me  out     He  doesn't  even  try  o  win  me  to  H 

He  loves  it  more  than  me. "  "  ju  me  lo  it. 

As  she  knelt  she  was,  for  the  first  time,  almost  con 
scous  of  her  inborn  hostility  to  this  faith  of  mysterks 
and  moral  duties-of  human  sin  and  suffennj  God 
The  atmosphere  of  silent  prayer  became  electric  A 
woman  m  black  was  quietly  crying  be.side  her  and 
Petnna  herself  choked  back  a  sob,  as  she  rose  drew 
down  her  veil,  and  went  away  ' 

^"n  ^!.'''n^^  excitement  of  the  day  she  was  more  than 
usually  brilliant  when  Vassall  came  that  night      Her 
eyes  were  glowmg  and  her  cheeks  full  of  color'     Her 
128 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asund 


er 


black  evening  gown,  of  some  soft  clinging  stuff,  height- 
ened  the  sparkle  of  her  glance  avi  the  radiancy  of  her 
complexion.  -^ 

"The  Egyptian  has  gone."  Mrs.  Faneuil  had  said  to 
herself  at  dmner.     "  It  is  the  turn  of  the  Parisian  " 

Vassal  had  not  dined  with  them.  He  had  been 
working  late  at  his  office,  preparatory  to  his  long  ab- 
sence. He  had  looked  in  only  on  his  way  to  Cam- 
bridge, apologizing  for  his  morning  dress 

Petnna  had  reacted  from  her  depression  earlier  in 
the  day.  She  received  him  with  smiles,  she  amused 
him,  she  mada  much  of  him.  The  very  sense  on  her 
part  that  there  had  been  a  shadow  between  them  gave 
a  deeper  thrill  to  her  happiness  in  having  him  there  be- 
I.f'.^"!'^^.*  *°  "°  ^P^"  ''"t  hers.  Vassall  responded 
with  that  air  of  quiet,  unexaggerated  passion  which  be- 
came him  well,  and  suggested  rich  reserves.  It  was 
one  of  those  moments,  special  even  between  those  who 
love  each  other,  when  the  tie  seems  tighter,  the  sym- 
pathy fuller,  and  the  union  of  hearts  more  complete. 
Vassall  stayed  late.  When  he  rose  to  go,  Petrina  rose 
too,  and  stood  confronting  him. 

"You  are  looking  superb  to-nig}it,"  he  said,  with  a 
proud  smile. 

"  ^  ^  • "  she  laughed.     "  I  feel  superb  " 
-,  So  you  ought.     But  why  so  specially  to-night?" 
volt  "        '  Reaction,  perhaps,  or  perhaps  re- 

"Not  against  me,  I  hope." 
"I  went  to  your  church  to-day." 
"Really?    I  didn't  see  you." 

"  I  didn't  want  you  to  see  me.     I  sat  in  a  comer,  and 
wore  a  veil." 
"I  hope  you— understood." 

"Oh,  Harry."  she  cried,  with  a  gesture  of  the  hands, 
'  129 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

•' V«  f^'~wuX^?'?"  •'^8^"'  "  «°™e  perplexity 

■'But  surely,  every  one  believes  that  it  exists." 
in  it      I  H     'T^  °"^'  "°*  ^^^-^  °"^-     I  do  not  believe 

But  sin,  dearest,  is  a  great  fact." 

But  every  one  is." 

thinkTf'me"  TLf  "l"*  "''''■^.°"^'     "r^"  «■«  ^^at  you 
believ^r".I1  ^V"'  ^"'^  "^y  ^l^^ther  or  not  you 

sert^^Cft?     y°"'-.,  hymns  and  prayers  to^ay  as^ 
sert^-that  I  am  guilty,  that  I  do  things-" 

«"t  we  are  not  required  to  accuse  each  other     We 
are  only  bound  to  confess  our  own  sins  " 
then  you  have  them,  too?" 
"Certainly." 
"What  are  they?" 
Vassall  looked  abashed 

"I  don't  believe  it." 

"Thank  you.  dear,  but  unfortunately  -" 
130 


Ltt   Not    Man   Put   Asunder 

"Then  tell  me  some  of  them.    Tell  i".e  one.    I  want 
to  see  what  you  call  a  sin." 
"But  we  can't  treat  the  matter  jokingly  " 
I  am  not  joking.   !  want  to  know  what  you  do  which 
coTfestl' "*'  ^"''"«  ^  '  ''''"^  expressedLday.  S 
"Yes,  dear,  but  not  here,  and  not  to  you  " 
Vou  are  a  coward,  Harry.     If  you  believed  what 
you  say  you  do   you  would  tell  me  some  one  Sing  o 
which  you  are  thoroughly  ashamed  " 
;  Oh,  come,  Petrinal     That  isn't  fair  " 
If  you  believed  of   yourself   the  evil  vou  confess 
you  wouldn't  be  here  t<^night  making  love  to  me     You 
would  be  m  sackcloth  and  ashes.     You  would^  in  La 

Ik-  7?u  7"'i  ^'  """^  °f  '^°''  '"""ks  in  Rome 
who  stand  the  dead  up  in  corridors  and  decorate  the 
cchngs  with  whitened  bones.     Yes,  I  can  admit  thai 

l&eYsif;-'-'  '"  ''"'  ''"*  "°*  y°"  -'^  I'  -^o  Se 
"Then  let  us  take  it  easily,  dear.      These  big  sub- 

"v«    ■*  r  '•"''  '^*  ™^  S°-     Some  other  time-" 

ves.  It  IS  always  some  other  time  when  we  ooor 

mTn     of  H™'  "h^  ""^t"""'  ''"'^"^  f-  -  ho^e: 
man.     Oh,  Harry,  Harry,  Harry—!" 

But  her  breath  caught.     She  could  not  go  on     It 
shT  lit  W  r'*i^"f"^  •'^'^'^u".  ^  ^^"^•^  ^"'l  ^  -b  that 


Part  f  f 


CHAPTER  I 

On  the  day  following  the  arrival  of  Vassall  and  his 
wife  at  the  Carlton  House  Hotel,  Sir  Humphrey  de 
Bohun  came  to  call  on  them.  It  was  in  the  mornin^r, 
and  they  begged  him  to  stay  to  luncheon. 

It  will  be  our  only  opportunity  to  sec  you,"  Petrina 
urged.  We  are  going  to-morrow  to  Orpington  Park. 
We  are  to  help  celebrate  Hippolyta's  birthday,  which 
comes  on  Sunday." 

"By  Jove,  so  it  doesi"  cried  the  father.     "I  had 

quite    forgotten    it.      Poor   httle   Polly;    she   will   be 

eighteen.     I  haven't  seen  her  for  six  weeks  and  more. 

•  bhe  comes  up  to  town  now  and  then  with  my  mother. 

JSe-rRelufant'"'    "^^^   "   ^''^^"^^'^  ^'  ""^ 
•'Is  she  as  pretty  as  ever?"  Petrina  asked. 

Not  in  her  mother's  style." 
"She's  a  de  Bohun,"  said  Vassall 
_  "RaUier  a   Glendower,"   Sir  Humphrey   corrected. 
She  s  not  unhke  that  portrait  of  my  mother  which 
Dante  Rossetti  painted.     You  may  remember  it  in  the 
small  drawing-room  at  Orpington  Park  " 

ih '  °ni'  ^^!i"  ?f ''*  ^^*,""^-  "  '^^^  ""'^  ^^e  always  called 
the  Blessed  Damozel.  I  can  fancy  that  Hippolyta 
would  grow  to  look  hke  that."  w     >"« 

"  She  is  deuccdly  pretty ;  but  it  isn't  a  style  that  takes 
in  our  time. 

"If  I  remember  rightly  the  portrait  of  which  you 
speak,  said  Vassall,  "it  is  a  style  which  would  take 
m  any  time. 

135 


Let   Not   Man    Put   Asunder 

"It's  beauty,"  Sir  Humphrey  admitted,  "but  not  of  a 
type  in  vogue      It  isn't  sufficiently  lively,  nor  cfcic-" 
Nor  canatlle,"  added  Petrina. 

S.-r  ^,'  *t''^  ^°'"?  ^"'■*^^'■  ^^^°  ^  n^^"*'"  protested 
nail^Zf^'T  ur.'^T*  ^^"*  Hippolyta  to  be  co- 
»me  but  I  should  hke  to  see  her  a  little  more—" 

Like  Hetty  Vienne,"  Petrina  interrupted  again. 

Who  on  earth  is  Hetty  Vienne?"  asked  Vassall. 

Humphrey  knows." 
Petrina  laughed.     The  baronet  reddened. 

n..rv  li  'T'  n**^*'"  ^'■'^'y  ^^'"■-  '^°»  ^^  to  keep 
marvel  ously  well  posted  over  in  America." 

Well,  we  shall  say  no  more  about  it,  at  any  rate," 

^5^u    ""t'  Pl-^^^^tly.     "  It's  not  a  nice  subject-" 

Then  why  do  you  bring  it  up?"  said  Vassall. 

to  see  you  and  Humphrey  turn  red  " 

"I?    My  dear  Petrina—" 

w'iJ v'-''""'  "^7^  ^''^'-  "^°"  '=°lo«-  at  the  name  of. 
Hetty  Vienne  as  if  you  really  knew— " 

As  much  as  you." 
phret?"""^''  ^^  I-which  you  don't.    Does  he,  Hum- 

"Upon  my  word — " 

"There,  there,  Humphrey;  we'll  drop  it.     You  men 
always  want  to  talk  about  improper  things  " 

H;nnow"'^'^'"J"J.  ^r'JP  °"'  ^"^  ''"J'  Something  for 
sS"^  "T  ^^"^  Sir  Humphrey,  eager  to  changf  the 
subject.  I  can  be  back  in  time  for  lunch  if  you  give 
me  a  few  minutes' grace."  j-^u  give 

"Don't  you  think,"  Vassall  asked,  "that  I  had  better 
go  with  him,  and  get  something  for  us  to  give  her?" 
_     Go  to  Duvelleroy's,  in  Regent  Street,"  said  Petrina 
and  ask  for  the  white  lace  fan  which  Mrs.  Vassal 
ordered    o  be  put  a.side  for  her.     You  will  then  have 
thepnvilege  of  paying  ten  guineas  for  it,  and  bring- 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

ing  it  home.     Hippolyta  will  use  it  after  she  is  pre- 
sented." 

The  two  men  set  out  upon  their  errand. 

"Shall  we  take  a  hansom?"  Sir  Humphrey  asked,  as 
they  left  the  hotel. 

"  No ;  let's  walk,"  Vassall  replied. 

For  a  few  minutes  they  went  on  together  in  silence. 

As  they  turned  into  Waterloo  Place  Vas.sall  glanced 
at  his  brother-in-law,  who  was  evidently  somewhat 
flustered. 

"  His  face  is  a  Uttle  coarser  than  it  used  to  be,"  Vassall 
thought.     "  And  being  stouter  makes  him  look  shorter. " 

Sir  Humphrey  was,  however,  not  precisely  short; 
he  was  only  thick-set  and  stocky— the  type  of  well- 
nourished,  full  -  blooded  Englishmen,  for  whom  sport, 
fresh  air,  and  Carlsbad  are  the  necessary  antidotes  to 
ease,  prosperity,  and  good  living.  His  ancestors  had 
been  knights  under  the  Normans;  crusaders  under 
the  Plantagenets;  statesmen  under  the  Tudors;  cav- 
aUers  under  the  Stuarts;  and  respectable,  well-to-do 
members  of  Parliament  under  the  House  of  Hanover. 
Their  names  and  their  merits  were  so  many  that  their 
modem  representative  had  ceased  to  take  account  of 
them.  Dick  Lechmere  had  said  of  Sir  Humphrey  that 
he  had  so  much  family  pride  that  he  could  afford  to  cast 
it  to  the  winds.  That  gave  him  the  air  of  having  none. 
He  was  affable,  with  the  good-nature  of  one  whose  wants 
are  material  and  well  supphed.  He  was  obliging,  with 
the  easy  generosity  of  him  who  has  no  motive  for  hus- 
banding his  resources  or  his  time.  He  was  Uked,  with 
the  negative  popularity  of  the  man  who  has  no  con- 
versation, but  is  always  ready  to  listen  and  to  laugh. 
With  nothing  to  seek  and  much  to  bestow,  he  passed 
among  men  for  one  who  was  fulfilling  fairly  well  the 
purposes  of  an  inscrutable  Creator. 
137 


Let  Not  Man  P„,  Asunder 

4j^  is-i^LSs  «"'■"'  ■»  -^  '"«»'• 

It  IS  more  eloquent  than  the  gift  of  tongues  "  M,= 
Tyrell  had  remarked  last  year  to  Gent°ar^    ^      '    ^'• 

lad/hadXH^"""  °'  '  """^  "^*"-'"  that  young 

m2  uLVi^^'^'wS'  3tock-in-trade/'  Lech- 
of  tact  and  tel^fanHTl^  ^u"?  '*  ^^^  ^he  place 
/aire."  '^"'^  ^^^  **'°J«  •^"'npass  of  ,at«,> 

when  S"  s"p:ro?1t'^?-t-:  Sr  "^^"^1^  '^^''^^' 
smile  r!„e,  i^d  I  am  his  ^'ff  "r^^^^  ^^^""^  *" 
could  charm  me  as  a^s^^  d^es'^  S.'^^'^  *°  '^^ 

n^^^i'Lid^i^^jjjTt-sKrd'T^^^^^ 

lets     Oh^o"nVnlV^  *°  ''^t''  ^y  the  scLt  ofvi!: 

K^s^tJ^i^fLl^^-Si^JTSSiri 

Its  very  blandness  became  a  torture  "  '  *"" 


Let   Not   Man   Put    Asunder 

It  was  to  the  real  Sir  Humphrey  only  what  the  mask 
is  to  the  actor. 

"De  Bohun  smiles  because  he  has  nothing  to  say," 
Major  Bertie  had  rephed  to  Lady  de  Bohun. 

And  it  was  because  he  had  nothing  to  say  that  Sir 
Humphrey  now  smiled  on  Vassall;  while  Vassall  saw 
only  that  boyish  embarrassment  and  that  sympathetic 
confession  of  weakness  which  are  sure  of  forgiveness 
beforehand. 

They  had  reached  Piccadilly  Circus,  and  in  order  to 
cross  the  stream  of  traffic  were  obUged  to  take  separate 
ways. 

"After  all,  he  is  a  good  sort,"  Vassall  thought,  as  he 
threaded  his  way  among  the  vehicles.  "Even  in  his 
escapades  one  can't  help  hking  him." 

"I  think,"  said  Sir  Humphrey,  as  they  came  together 
again  and  began  to  go  up  Regent  Street— "I  think,  old 
chap,  that  as  Petrina  is  evidently  on  Emmy's  side,  you 
ought  to  be  on  mine." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  Humphrey.  Petrina 
doesn't  take  her  side  any  more  than  yours." 

"  Yes,  she  does.  Emmy  keeps  her  posted  in  all  that's 
going  on." 

"Possibly;  but  if  Emmy  had  nothing  to  tell,  Petrina 
would  have  nothing  to  learn." 

"That's  gently  put,  and  I  accept  the  hinted  repri- 
mand. If  you  spoke  as  severely  as  you  feel,  no  doubt 
your  language  would  be  stronger." 

"I'm  not  su'c  about  that.  I'm  not  conscious  of  feel- 
ing severely  towards  any  one.  Naturally  I  am  a  good 
deal  disappointed  that  you  and  Emmy  couldn't  con- 
tmue  to  hit  it  off  together  after  nearly  twenty  years  of 
married  life." 

"Bless  your  soul,  Harry,  I  could  go  on  hitting  it  off, 
as  you  call  it,  from  now  till  doomsday.      I  could  keep 
139 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

tJinZ^^''^'-  ''  ^"^y  -^«»-    I  was  perfectly 
"n7\  Sri  "^^  y°^J^^^  her  contented?" 

She  :i^,t;i  r/o;r^J:t\sj  ^--  •--  -»-* 

PW  lir^:,,?"-^  »-«  --  ground  of  con:- 
e^J|£^iefr-ltT^1^.-one. 

"Oh    ^JZ""^  '^"^y^    This  Hetty-?" 
sheJti'S  to  Pirit''  fr.^  ""^i  f °"''  '^o-  how 

She'sir  i''LmfocS""%'^  ""^^  ^"™--'«  ~ 

Just  now  K^  h  °^  '*'  ^'^'^  ^^^^  didn't  care, 

does  Why  n";  mofe  fhaT^  '°  "^^l  '"'"<^^'  ^^^  «»»« 
know.  Why Tshould^  H  f*"^,".*''"'"  "'"^'  ^  ^on't 
LucyFitzaknorMarla-^f      '"^  ^"""^  '°°^^  *an 

su;XSlif^t"airtLf?.^--  --«-  in 

care^'^k^StJrcaJr^^^/^L^r'.r  ^""^  """-'^ 

out  is.  what's  her  g^e"  '^^t^S  /  T^  ^"'""''^ 

"And  you  y^ant^iiJr  °  '"^"^  "P  *°^" 

anSn^tf  li£^^  "^-    ^^"  ^^  ^'^  -dy  to  do 
"If  she  wants  to  be  reconciled?" 

hanI\T/:S  'a%to';crst"fSH  "'  T  ^^  °"^- 
it  handsome.     But  I  wlnt  t.V^.!^''^  '*'  ^"^  "^^^ 

And  which  would  you  prefer?" 
I  have  no  preference.    She  shall  have  what  she 
140 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

chooses     I  can  live  with  Emmy  as  long  as  she  can 
hv^  with  me.    On  the  other  hand,  I  can  live  without 

"And  the  children?" 

"I  miss  them  sometimes,  poor  little  souls  I  I  was 
always  fond  of  them.  I  am  ready  to  take  them,  or  di- 
vide than,  or  to  let  her  have  them  all.  Emmy  shall 
decide  that,  too. 

"?  J*  K^^"'*  y°"  any  sense  of  responsibility,  man? 
or  of  duty?  or  of  conscience?  or  of  mere  animal  affec- 
tion? 

Sir  Humphrey  found  these  questions  embarrassing, 
and  so  took  refuge  in  silence  and  a  smile 

,  .""^'■^/f,"^  ?*  Duvelleroy's,"  he  said,  a  minute 
later.       Letsgom." 


CHAPTER  II 

"Only  about  Emmy  and  de  Bohun  " 
"Hum£;Ts^.?i^'^  •=''"'-*  -"h  the  situation." 
"Emmy  is.     What  does  Humphrey  want?" 

And"LTr«iroS"tLtt'^^  or  Lmethln.  worse, 
of  the  two  h!  gets  "  "  indifferent  as  to  which 

"^?"  ™ean  that  he  would  hke— ?" 
Either  a  reconcihation  or  a  divorce." 

"Oh  PeS"  "^'^  "^^  '"^""^^  -""^  »>«  the  better." 

ani^iT"'"^^  *°"^  '"  ^'^^'^  ^^^  ^PoJ^e  g-e  him 
"How  narrow  you  arel"  she  laughed. 

their  own  apartmenT  buf  pT  "*  ^°  ^'"^  ''"'^"y '« 
down  and  see  the  i^nl^  T*  ^?  P"'^^^''"'  *°  <^°'ne 
tion  to  be  se"n  soSress^'ife^^^^^^^^^^^  '"^  °'  ^^'  '"*^"- 
respectful  atteition-in  —M^r  ""fu^ '"  '"'"^ 
but  very  costly  necklace        ^  ^'  ^'*  ^  ""»P'= 

and  rose  would  make  thl'm^^  Snyl^^rom^ex!,? 
142 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

and  only  the  insolence  of  great  beauty  could  be  other 
than  glad  of  this  delicately  shaded  light.  Yes,  Ponimery 
sec  for  me." 

"  But  don't  you  find  dining  in  such  a  crowd  rather 
mixed  and  pubUc?" 

"That's  only  your  Old  Cambridge  instinct  for  burial 
ahve.     You  mustn't  be  so  frigidly  unobtrusive. " 

"  I  don't  Mke  to  see  so  many  people. " 

"  But  they  are  amusing  and  picturesque." 

"Aren't  we  sufficient  to  ourselves?" 

" Good  gracious,  no!  If  we  had  been  we  should  have 
stayed  at  home.  No  two  persons  are  sufficient  to  them- 
selves—not any  more  than  two  musical  notes  are  suf- 
ficient to  make  a  melody.  Don't  be  so  wrapped  up  in 
yourself,  Harry  dear.  A  great  restaurant  of  this  sort 
is  like  a  social  kaleidoscope.  You  see  the  most  wonder- 
ful combmations—  Oh,  how  do  you  do.  Lady  York- 
shire? and  Lord  Yorkshire?  and  Mr.  Amos?  How  de- 
nghtful  this  is  I  Let  me  introduce  my  husband— Mr 
Vassall." 

Vassall  had  risen.     Petrina  remained  seated. 

"I  know  your  sister.  Lady  de  Bohun,  very  well," 
said  the  tall,  graceful,  languid  young  woman  who 
had  stopped  to  greet  Petrina.  "She  isn't  in  town  this 
year,  I  think." 

"She  hasn't  a  house,"  Vassall  explained.  "She 
goes  to  Claridge's." 

"I  haven't  seen  her  about.  Do  bring  Mrs.  Vassall 
to  tea  in  Bruton  Street  some  Thursday.  So  glad  to 
see  you  in  England  again." 

So  with  a  nod  Lady  Yorkshire,  with  her  two  men, 
passed  on. 

"That's  what  Emmy  calls  'The  Triangle,'"  Petrina 
said,  when  they  were  out  of  ear-shot.     "  The  three  are 
never  apart.     Amos   is   an   American— an   American 
143 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
cupy  his  hotel  in  fl,!  A  Yorkshires  always  oc- 

see."         ^°  ^°"  "^^^  ''y  .'The  Triangle '?-    Oh,  I 
"  TWr"'    ^°"''"  P°^"'^^Jy  coloring. " 

explSi"!'!:  -^"eTjdT"';'  ^Co„;.die,"  Petrina 

didn't  know':he\\r^'El^a1d'"sh1's's  "*"™-    ? 
clev^^^at  one  forgets  her  iSlf  ^^'J.ry.:r^^fl 

seitrAitt'tinttir  ^-"-^  "^- 

S^Jjtr-'^  <'^— dstZslS^jSigXluesfst 

-mv  irm.?*  *•'!  ^"""'^  °^  the  voice. 
andtuginT     "  """"'"  ^^'""^  -Pond^  rising 

h«SS^ZrS':-S;^^---<'oing 

forward,  "tWs  is  2  „IH  f       ,? Ij  ^'  ^^'  P""=«  =««•« 

Mrs.  Va;.san:Vnd";Lt  Sr'vaSr  ^™''  "°^ 
144 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

..P*  ^"V."'  *ho  was  tall  and  soldierly,  bowed  with 
stiff  cordiality,  while  Petrina  and  the  Princess  chattered 
wiOi  clipped  sentences  and  hurried  questions  and  replies, 
bhe  was  Sophy  Gregorson,  of  Portland,"  Petrina 
said  m  a  low  voice  to  Vassall,  when  the  parties  had 
separated  and  settled  down.  "When  I  wafat  school 
with  her  we  used  to  amuse  ourselves  with  the  quaint 
New  England  country  phrases.     Every  time  I  sle  her 

Prfn.^^%  °"\  '°  *^™^  ""^  '"^-  She  married  this 
i^ince  Hans,  not  realizing  that  she  wasn't  stand- 
gemissig  among  the  mediatized  houses.  When  she 
went  to  Germany,  of  course,  she  was  only  a  morga- 
natic wife.  But  Sophy's  spirit  couldn't  bend  to  that. 
Consequently  she  makes  her  husband  live  in  Eng- 
land, where  morganatic  marriages  don't  exist  and 
her  rank  is  recognized.  She  had  a  terrible  battle  to 
fight  m  Germany.  The  Emperor  wanted  to  make  her 
some  sort  of  counters,  but  she  wouldn't  accept  any- 
thing short  of  her  husband's  name  "  *-        j- 

he"rn,?lH  ""'r  "^^u"^'  ^°°'"  ^'^'"^"  ''^S^"''  ^ut  before 
"  ™?u       '=°"''n"e  he  saw  another  acquaintance  coining 
Who  IS  this  stout  lady  in  red,  with  the  wonderful  ex- 
tent of  bare  shoulders?" 

f„l"'\*^-^jV*f.''  ^^  Ambleside,"  Petrina  managed 

to  say.humedly  "and  don't  forget  that  you  know  her  " 

1  saw  you,  dear,  from  the  other  side  of  the  room  " 

said  the  Duchess,  in  a  gurgling  voice,  as  both  the  Vas- 

shake  hands  with  you.     I  hear  you're  married.    So 

Ta    }  ^^T""?"  "neeting  you,  Mr.  Vassall,  at  dear 
Lady  de  Bohun's." 

^jjYou  are  very  kind.  Duchess,  I  am  sure,"  said  Vas- 

"Oh,  I  never  forget  so  interesting  a  face  as  yours. 
Where  are  you  stajing.  Miss  Faneuil?" 
145 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
"Here,  at  this  hotel  " 

spend  Sunaay  with  us  at  Groombridge.     Oh  yes  fetcS 

t^  mStVer     iT-  u  /  "  '''\^''  ^"^'^^  Wallingford 
LcT"s„'f;;te/el°,"'.'l  '""  '°  •'"^^  ^°"-     ^  '»'-''' our 

wi7a'  wi'  '^nf '.l!'^"^  '"  «°'"  P^«-  broke  in 
Cngton  fL.'-""  *"'  "^  "^  ""*=  ^-  Sunday  at 

ihlV'^'l  "'"^^  *°  **"•  -Poynter's  party  on  Wednesdav  " 
the  Duchess  gurgled  on.     "  I'll  send  you  a  cfrS     D^r 

W  rffr      ^T^^^  ve  taken  our  house  in  BucWng- 

ner  for  W  I  \^''-  ^^  ^'^'''-  I'"  giving  a  dk- 
m.  ^^^5{.here  t(^night^r  else  she's  giving  it  for 
me.     Whichever  it  is,  she  navs     That  «=m  L 

with  all  the  orchids  Ws  ker-S,e  nr  f^''  *"" 
in  pink,  who  looks  as  if  she  ndnt;^     T^''"^  TT" 

•""SeS  ST''!-  ,\^£»^Sgh^tre:  you'^ 
We  should  be  glad  to  go  if  we  are  in  town." 

«»If  M  ^^^  *•«  ^  """^^  SO  now.  Don't  trouble  your- 
self, Mr.  Vassall.  So  glad  to  have  met  you  agZ 
You've  such  an  interesting  face  "  ^ 

mo'vSlwar"  °''  '''"■'"  "''  '''*""^'  ^'^  *^  °"*-« 

"Rnf^'^jl'V   "'*'   humbug?"   Va.-,11   responded 
But    g^Kxl  Heavens!  she's  coming  k.k  agai^" 
Th,s  was  true.     The  Duchess  had  returned 
Uont   get   up,     she  gurgled  again.     "I've  onlv 
come  back  to  say  that  over  at  our  table  we've  got  Mrs 
Tredelly  the  actress  and  Hartley  Payne  the  winter' 
He  ought  to  be  Mr.  Tredelly,  you"^  know,  only  uStu: 
nately  there's  one  already.    Shameful,  isn't  it?    And 
146 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

yet  it's  so  instructive  to  watch  people  in  equivocal  sit- 
uations.    Iha  s  why  I  made  Mrs.  Poynter  ask  them. 

black,  w,U,  the  red  flowers.  That's  him  with  the  lovely 
hair-just  hke  a  nice  French  coiffeur.  Well,  eood-bve 
again.  Don't  forget  Wednesday  at  Buckingham  Gate 
Sso  glad  you  re  married.  I  shouldn't  have  forgotten 
your  face,  Mr.  Vassall,  if  we  hadn  t  met  for  ten  year.. 
It  s  so  interesting. "  ^        ' 

Her  Grace  was  gone  again. 

^^  She's  so  original  I"  said  Petrina. 

"Yes;  if  it's  original  to  be  outrageous.    Whv  did 
she  keep  saying  that  I  had  such  an  interesting  face?" 

_  That  only  means  that  she  is  willing  to  take  you  up." 
lake  me — what?" 
^JUp;  show  you  attentions;  have  you  go  about  with 

"About?    Where?" 

"In  the  park;  to  parUes;  to  the  opera;  wherever 
people  are  seen. 
"And  you?" 

"Oh,  I  should  have  Sir  George  Wallingford.     She 
has  arranged  for  that." 

"Weill  upon  my— I" 

"  I  wish  .she  would.     She  would  modernize  you  " 
IJo  you  mean  to  say  that  I  need  that?  ' 
ther  "   '^  "^"^     ^°"  "^"^  ^^  out-of-date  as  a  Pilgrim  Fa- 

"Then  I'm  in  good  company." 

"It  is  never  good  company  to  be  where  you  don't  be- 
long. 

l'S°x''°".,'"^"  ^''^  ^  ^^'°"g  to-to  all  this?" 
Naturally.     I  do." 

thdMnfal°"f  *°  *'^'^  company  of  people  who  parade 
147 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
'.75?'  ■  ^^"  strong,  Harry  " 

I  Rave  my  sStJ::."  ™^''' '""''  »**"  «»»  i"  the  form 
;;rm  not  accustomed  to  observe  so  closely  " 

Ulk'i^L  v^Si'*  The"'^^::?:    Nowaday,  good 
the  Positive/^Stl^lal^r '^{^^'•^K^^^^ 

^  Se":erb''and"1/'^  "°""  '^'  not^£'v  "b.'^r'^ 

"Like  the  miirier'i  wif^^XS  flf'^  "t*'''=^" 
mar  that  she  could  tell  a  £' JthouUin"^'  """='  ^'^ 

When 'yorSa;i  £.[---;-'  ^^'n^olS*'^.^' 

hTrghT^lTera^^s?'''-^^ 

it  will  always  tecome  .Tl'"'"*  *°'d  i"  the  sentence, 

never  be  difficulMoTnd     x^^    ^''^''''  ^'"^  ^'" 
there  need  never  be  a„v„n»»*  ^^"^  '^  discretion, 

"  I  d™?t  KL?I   u    ^  "P*"  utterance  of  scandal  " 
^  J  don  t  hke  to  hear  you  talk  as  you  are  doing  now, 

''I  only  speak  my  mind." 

"luZ7lCuJi^r  ^^"y  ^'°™  «»«h  other." 
"I  caT"    as  £i     ''°"  *°"'*'  ^^«  *"h  me." 
such  Zl  as  thP^v' Ju"  '""^"'^^  y°"««lf  among 

and  thT^h^s^o    ISL'dT'wl'h '"■•  5'°"'^^^ 
niUon  of  an  immoral-^  '     '""  '*^''  P"'''"=  ^^"g" 

"b!!;  ^f  T"'°"  'f  *=^"=^'y  *e  word." 
But  she  knows  of  it;  she  speaks  of  it." 

She  finds  it  instructiJeTi^SpH-  ^^^^^ 


Let  Not    Man   Put  Asunder 


situations.  That  is  probably  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
paring notes.  If  fame  does  not  belie  her,  she  has  seen 
such  situations  from  a  nearer  point  of  — " 

"What  a  lot  of  such  things  you  know,  Petrina!" 
Vassall  exclaimed. 

"And  don't  you?"  she  asked. 

"Possibly;  but  I  am  a  man." 

"And  does  that  fact  give  you  a  monopoly  of  knowl- 
edge?" 

"A  man  cannot  but  know  things  of  which  his  wife 
had  better  be  ignorant.  I  am  old-fashioned  enough  to 
believe  that. " 

"So  I  should  suppose;  but  I  am  not." 

Petrina  laughed  lightly,  and  slowly  waved  her  large, 
black,  spangled  fan.  A  note  had  been  struck  in  the 
conversation  which  exhilarated  her.  There  was  in  her 
a  strain  of  daring  that  delighted  to  skate  out  on  the 
thin  ice  of  discussion.  The  danger  sign-post  only 
lured  her  on.  She  was  proud,  too,  of  being  able  to 
look  at  the  uglier  side  of  life  with  toleration.  She  flat- 
tered herself  on  having  no  Hebraic  horror  at  the  sight 
of  what  commonplace  people  call  Wrong.  Life  to  her 
was  a  spectacle  in  which  one  could  always  detect  the 
vice  of  the  virtuous  and  the  virtue  of  the  vicious.  That 
she  found  amusing.  She  would  have  shrunk  from  the 
squalor  of  the  drunkard  in  the  slums ;  but  here  in  this 
great  room,  with  its  toned  light,  its  shades  of  cream 
and  rose  and  gold,  its  flash  of  jewels,  its  scent  of  flow- 
ers, its  fumes  of  wine,  its  subdued  laughter,  its  hum 
of  talk,  its  distant  music,  its  perfect  correctness  of  all 
outward  seeming — here  vice  was  a  stimulating  con- 
trast; it  excited  the  mind;  it  stirred  the  curiosity;  it 
took  away  from  a  well-bred  life  something  of  its  ex- 
quisite tameness. 

As  Petrina  looked  about  her,  it  was  as  if  she  was 
149 


^1 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Countess  of  Yorkshire,  SeLbvhnlf'i""^"''*  ^°"»^ 
entered,  and  wonder  wfetheT  o^  ^  ^^u  ^^^^  ^^° 
sense  of  shame.  She  liked  tn[  T  ^^^  ^^  any 
Payne,  who  had  a  «dfe  ^TdlJ""^-  °T  ^*  "^rtley 
and  guess  whether  or  nTt  he  ia7  '"  ^'"■'.^  ^°"'»°"' 
morse.  She  liked  to  con^emnlaf^f  K  \"^  ^'"""^  "^  ^'=- 
Gregorson  and  the  dasrlZl  u^  ^'^''^^°  °^  ^P^V 
a  Grand  Ducal  ffighnL-a  J  '"^  f  *""  bore  herself  as 
sense  of  outrage  and  humillff/'^  u-  T^^^''^^^  ^o  the 
to  lie  within.  """"''^tion  which  Petrina  knew 

-Sr-s  s  ?rc^;^,i^:  7?  ^"'-ess,"  she 

alone  can  it  be  ni\.Z  "^tf^'^e  it  to  London.     Here 
posed  to  o^^n  Wet  ^^  y^tlTI^'L'"^  P"blic,  «! 
Vassall,  on  the  oth«  hand  "    ""'*  ^""'^halance. " 
conscious  of  somethinTodfousin  flT  "°^y-     "^  ^^^ 
This  public  exhibitio^^of  luxurv      /"'^  «toosphere. 
pugnant  to  his  New  Enria^d  ^    f  ^P?^'"^  ^^^^  ^e- 
That  people  who  haThomS  of  fh"'*'"'*  ^°'  ««^'"«'°n. 
to  come  with  their  guesT'd  h^^'T  Zu  '^°"'^  ^^oose 
seemed  to  him  a  relS  vufiri  v    "rh  P',!  """'titude 
make  such  display  of  their  n^^^'    P^'  ^'^^y  should 
that  Puritan  spiril-a  Stur.  T  ^f  ^"""^  «h°cked 
humility  and  dfsdain-whSrf  r^f"  ^"''  '^y^^^^'  of 
on  his  lips.     The  v«y  h2  Ind  fl  ^"  "'^^  "'^  '"^^th 
found  distasteful;   their  £au!"''f°'"^"  ^^  music  he 


Let  Not  Man  Put  A 


sunaer 


tess  of  Yorkshire  should  be  sitting  there,  feasted  and 
flattered  and  looked  at  with  envious  eyes — that  they 
should  not  be  pilloried  on  a  platform  with  the  Scarlet 
Letter  A  flaming  on  their  breasts,  was,  he  felt,  a  scandal. 
It  was  characteristic  of  him  that,  while  for  such  men 
as  Payne  and  Amos  and  Lord  Yorkshire  he  had  only  a 
lenient  scorn,  for  the  women  he  had  nothing  but  the 
whip-cord  of  severity.  There  were  weak  men  and  there 
were  vile  men;  one  knew  it,  and  yet  one  was  obliged 
to  give  them  some  sort  of  foothold  in  human  society; 
but  for  the  weak  woman  or  the  vile  woman  there  could 
be  nothing  but  the  ducking- st(x)l  or  Saint -Lazare. 
Vassall  had  neither  sympathy  lor  Hester  Pryime  nor 
pity  for  Manon  Lescaut.  He  was  not  without  sin;  and 
yet  he  would  have  remained  behind  when  the  Scribes  and 
Pharisees  went  out  one  by  one,  in  the  eighth  chapter  of 
St.  John.  He  would  have  spared,  with  contemptuous 
mercy,  Payne  and  Amos  and  Zimri  the  son  of  Salu; 
while  he  would  have  thrust  through  with  a  javelin  Mrs. 
Tredelly  and  Lady  Yorkshire  and  Cozbi  the  daughter 
of  Zur. 

So,  with  a  sense  of  disapproval,  he  ate  his  dirmer  and 
sipped  his  wine.  With  a  party  of  other  men  he  could 
have  enjoyed  the  spectacle  for  once,  as  an  instance  of 
modem  luxury  and  fashion.  But  with  Petrina  there 
he  was  ill  at  ease.  It  pained  him  to  see  her  so  much 
at  home  among  these  people.  It  jarred  upon  him  to 
hear  her  speak  with  so  much  knowledge  of  their  charac- 
ters and  affairs. 

"Are  you  worried,  Harry?"  she  asked,  when  he  had 
been  some  time  silent. 

It  was  then  that  they  spoke  of  Sir  Humphrey  and 
Lady  de  Bohun;  and  again  a  discordant  note  came 
into  the  talk. 

"How  narrow  you  are!"  Petrina  laughed  lightly  as 
151 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

time  may  cTme  when  hulbrd^""^""  1°  "^"^  *«^  " 
each  other  free  "  ''"sband  and  wife  ought  to  set 

veSr  fllSriaS--  '^^  topic,  and  so  the  con- 

gestS.'"""  ^'  '"^^  -'  -ff-  in  the  hall?"  he  sug- 
"  Yes;  this  room  is  rather  hot  " 

No  Englishwoman  in  iK^/hIT  '"'  ^.''^  P""^- 
Frenchwoman  more  ^race  '°°'",^«'l.™°'-e  dignity,  „„ 
She  nodded  again  to  Lady  VorkshTrrrP  '^"'^  ^^«"«- 
and  to  Jeanne  Vignon  The  men  k'  ,f°  ^"""^'^  «^«' 
as  she  went  on.  "^"  ''^^  ^"^  and  bowed 

"  Don't  forget  Wednesday  "  said  th.  n     u 
passed  her  table,  "even  UiLX    ^   0"<^hess  as  thejr 

They  were  am^ng  tC  fii  ?„     ''""^  ^°"  ^  ^^^'i- " 
cool  palm-court,  wS  s^t 2  TZ  c"'h  *'^^^^*' 
Hotel,  for   drawing-room     !Lt  ^""°"  Ho"se 

hall,  and  lounge.     OnrS'thT?      f  "ul""™'    ^''^^^<=^ 
terrace  was  still  free  ^d  .1/  ^ew  tables  on  the  httle 
found  it  amusing  to  ^tohZ  ^^^  l''    ^^^"  ^^'^^^ 
some  leaving  earlyfor  the  1»  .      f*""'^  '=°'"«  ««d  go- 
settling  themSs  in  s^oui't  "^j'-toP-'-a-others 
under  the  palms  and  f^r^  7""'^  '^^  ««le  tables 
of  spirits.     She  enjovrf^the^„i        "Tf-  "^^^ '"  "'^  best 
ment-the  ever-sE^^' ?'°'^,^"f  ^'^^^  and  move- 
the  living  kaleidoscope    Vr*'^"'^  °^  ^^^^  «he  called 
moods  before  whSTher  L^' I,""''" "^^hose radiant 
failed  to  melt,     Se  grew  t"      "'^  "  "loroseness  never 
and  sipped  his  ch^lZf/^.^^^u'^    ^'  ^'  «™°ked 

human  oddities  aro^^hL'S"!,^'*  ^"  ^^  the 

of  the  pretty  robes,    rtv' ^nl^il'^, '^"^ ^^™^««on 

I  hey  guessed  at  nationahties; 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

and  among  their  own  compatriots  distinguished  be- 
tween those  who  must  have  come  from  Indiana  or  Illi- 
nois and  those  who  were  evidently  of  New  York  They 
agreed  that  there  were  no  Bostonians  but  themselves. 

Look  look     Petrma  cried,  suddenly.    "Who  is  that 
girl  m  white?" 

"Where?" 

"Not  there;  over  by  that  fern-tree;  she's  standing 
with  two  men,  and  a  lady  in  dark  green.  Now  they're 
sitting  down.     Don't  you  see?" 

"No;  I  don't." 

"  How  stupid  I  She's  the  most  wonderfully  beautiful 
creature!     It's  the  tabls  next  the  Yorkshires  " 

"Yes,  yes,  I  see  her  now.  Looks  like  some  nice  Eng- 
hsh  clergyman  s  daughter. " 

"A  little— you  mean  her  air  of  modesty—" 
And  goodness." 

"Yes  and  something  demure  and  serene  and  di*. 
tinguished — " 

"You  can  fancy  her  cutting  flowers  in  the  vicar- 
age garden  to  decorate  the  chancel  of  the  church  It's 
a  sort  o  Royal  Academy  vicar's  daughter,  though. 
1  hat  perfect  oval  of  her  face—" 

"And  large  blue  eyes-  Oh,  Harry,  do  look  at  herl 
She  s  really  too  maidenly.  And  what  a  hand!  Notice 
how  she  holds  her  cup!" 

"I'm  trying  to  do  justice  to  her  lovely  light  hair  " 
How  prettily  it  grows!"  said  Petrina,  enthusiasti- 
cally.      I  wish  mine  would. " 

"And  yet  I  seem  to  know  her  face,"  said  Vassall,  a)> 
sently,  searching  in  his  memory. 

"And  I,  too.    I've  seen  her  in  some  photograph,  I  am 
sure.     I  have  in  mind  the  form  without  the  coloring 
I  never  could  have  forgotten  those  eyes  vr  that  com- 
plexion, if  I  had  once  seen  them— or  those  pearls     Just 
153 


Let  Not  Man  Put   Asund 


cr 
look  at  the  pearls,  Harryl    One,  two,  three  four-four 

deProny,  Lechmere'swife."  iisreuaa 

"?u!'  ^^^n*  breathed  softly 
'  "But^'n?  ^^^  T""  ^"  somewhere,"  Vassall  went  on. 
he^  hke  '£^^'  "^  °"  *^  ^*^«^-  ^  «"'^«'t  -ognize 
"I've  always  missed  her,  wherever  I've  been,"  said 
Petrma,  gazing  intently  at  the  prima  donna  "^u 
must  certainly  take  me  to  hear  her  " 

"itZn-V  ^"''S'^J^^^ens.  whatacontrastl- 
.Z^t:l^^'  '*'  '  ^"*  ^""^  "'  -  '-'i^^^'  the 
"I  should  Mke  to  know  h>:r.'" 
"My  dear  Petrina— I" 
"I  should.    I  shall." 

you/^°'  ^'^'''^'"  '^^'^^  '^^^"-    "^  ™"Wn't  allow 
tuZfL?"!*'"'*  «^'>«t^:'.  Petrina  asked,  with  a  sudden 
S™ngl'oThtm"o"  "^"  ""'  '-"^  '  ^^'''  ""'  P^-Pt^ble 
"I  couldn't  allow  you  to  meet  such  a  woman  " 
When  I  ask  for  permission,  Harry  dear,"  she  said 
m^  a  smi  e-but  a  smile  in  which  there  w;s  a  ceSfn 
^  l!tl"?*^h"-.''  '*  '^I'  ^  time  enough  to  ref  us^  " 
with'  iS  ?em^^:.  *"^  '"^  *^  ^"-•-'''"  »>«  --Id, 

spl'e?^^  '"  '"^''  *  *'"^  *'  *^^  ™°'«  ''*«te  the  less 
154 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

"I  know  you  don't  intend  to  disobey  me,  dear;  so  whv 
should  we  talk  like  two  children?" 

A  sudden  flush  rose  to  Petrina's  cheek,  but  she  check- 
ed the  reply  that  was  trembling  on  her  tongue 

"  r  /u^"?  ^i""^;,"  ^^^  ^^^-  haughtily,  rising  as  she  spoke. 
I  think  I  will  go  up-stairs." 

But  she  took  the  paihs  to  be  very  gracious  to  Ladv 
Yorkshire  and  Mr.  Amos  as  she  passed  out,  and  to 
have  a  final  word  with  the  Duchess  of  Ambleside,  know- 
ing  that  Vassall  was  behind  her,  silent  and  annoyed 


CHAPTER  III 

"Can  you  imagine  anything  lovelier  ih^r,  =„        i 
summer  moming  at  Orpington  Park?"  &t     T1^ 
as  she  came  out  before  br^kfast  to  Ln  V        ,f ''l^' 
was  abeady  walking  on  tLT^^te    '  "  ^''^"'  "''° 

the  two  stood  still  to  look  ovor  «u^  »  r*  i      . 

vases,  m  which  were  plants  in  hinnni      b         7  ""^'^ 
n^was^S^mday  morning;  and  even  N^tu^re^^^^To 

"I  say.  Uncle  Harry,"  called  a  boy's  voice,    "Aren't 
156 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

you  and  Aunt  Petrina  coming  in  to  breakfast?    I'm 
starving,  and  mother  won't  be  down  for  hours." 

"All  right,  my  son;  we'll  come,"  Vassall  called  in 
reply. 

As  they  turned  they  saw  in  the  open  French  window 
of  the  breakfast-room  a  bright-faced  boy  of  fifteen  in  an 
Eton  jacket,  turned-down  linen  collar,  and  long,  gray 
trousers.  He  was  as  like  Sir  Humphrey  de  Bohun 
as  a  sapling  is  hke  a  tree. 

"Poor  Tristram t"  said  Petrina,  as  they  went  towards 
him. 

The  boy's  rosy  face  broke  into  a  dimpling  smile,  the 
very  reflection  of  his  father's. 

"Mother  made  a  great  fuss  about  getting  me  home 
from  Bab's  to  meet  you,"  he  complained.  "And  now 
I'm  left  to  die  of  hunger." 
"But  we  are  here  to  come  to  your  rescue." 
"That's  why  I'm  glad  you've  married  Uncle  Harry," 
he  returned.  "I  said  to  Polly,  'Now  there  will  be  one 
more  person  to  take  us  off  our  incompetent  parents' 
hands.'" 

"Don't  talk  like  that,  my  young  rover,"  Vassall 
said. 

"  But  you've  only  to  look  at  me  to  see  how  badly  they 
do  their  duty.  Uncle  Harry,"  the  lad  persisted.  "Every 
one  at  Bab's  thinks  I'm  the  worst  brought-up  boy  in  the 
school,  and  me  the  heir  to  a  baronet  of  Nova  Scotia ! " 

"  How  should  you  have  liked  me  for  a  mother?"  said 
Petrina,  coming  up  and  stopping  him  with  a  kiss. 

"I  don't  know  about  mother,"  he  said,  as  he  disen- 
gaged himself  from  her  embrace,  "but  if  I  had  my  life 
to  begin  over  again  you  would  be  something  nearer 
than  an  aunt." 

"And  where  should  I  have  come  in?"  Vassall  asked, 
with  a  laugh. 

^S7 


^^t  XNot  Man   Put  Asunder 

beitrll?'''''  ""'^  *"°"«»  y°"  the  pleasure  of 
"  wLl'*'"  **y  '"t"  the  breakfast-room. 

ina  wVo^r"""'""^'  ""'^  '-°'"  -d  Petrina. 
;;Hum^rey's  looks  but  Emmy's  power  of  language  " 

"have"  yor;«t  eZ!:^t'''r^'''  "-^  h"  p''«. 

Yes,"    she   went    on- "h        '^^  H.ppolyta's  plate? 
.ckets.  our  f^L^  s,  th^rat^lf  ti^^'  ^   - 

polk1r'm^re;Tii\i^er^S^^^  It  '-^''-™«> 

tram  remark^,  a^  ty^Il^^fr^^^\-t;  JlT 
package  tied  with  the  piece  of  Ted  sfaW^  Ju^Sl  "l* 
a  card  from  Humphie     Oh    I  «      J^^'.    T*"^  "Cher's 

tapestry-room  was  Inner     T^  *i.^      "'"""ug  room,    ibe 

teen— a  tall,  shght,  fair-ha  red  maiden   like  a  oLtf 
or  a  samt-robed  in  dark  green^S;i  in  rtl  K 

158 


Let  Not    Man  Put  Asunder 

Petrina  could  see  the  likeness  between  the  portrait  and 
the  girl. 

,.t"^J  Georgel"  exclaimed  Vassall,  under  his  breath. 

Isn't  she  pretty?" 

"Pretty  is  not  the  word,"  said  Petrina.  "She's  a 
peat  beauty.  But  Humphrey  was  quite  right.  It's 
beauty  too  great  to  be  chic,  too  pure  to  be  a  fashion  " 

The  girl  came  slowly  down  the  tapestry-room,  smil- 
ing shyly,  as  if  in  protest  against  her  appearance 

Soft  violet  eyes  like  hers,"  Petrina  went  on  "will 
inspire  men  to  noble  acts,  but  never  invite  them  to  flirta- 
tion. 

As  Hippolyta  came  nearer,  Petrina  rose  and  went  to 
meet  her. 

"  I  want  to  wish  you  many  happy— the  very  happiest 
—returns  of  the  day." 

"Thanks,  dear  Petrina,"  the  giri  replied,  while  they 
kissed  each  other.  ^ 

As  Vassall  offered  his  congratulations,  Petrina  took 
the  fan  from  the  box  and  opened  it. 

"We  hope  you  wiU  use  this— for  our  sakes,"  she  said 

Hippolyta  flushed  again  with  pleasure. 

"Oh,  how  lovelyl  I've  never  had  anything  so  pretty 
of  my  own.     I  use  mother's  old  fans— " 

"And  just  look  here,"  said  Tristram,  as  they  all  took 
their  places  again  about  the  table.  "  Here's  something 
from  me  which  I  hope  you'll  appreciate,  for  it  has  cost 
me  more  than  ten  common  shillings'  worth  of  self- 
denial.  And  here's  something,  too,  from  your  poor 
emng  father."  *^  ' 

"Don't  say  that,  Tristram,  not  even  in  fun,"  Hip- 
polyta said,  gently,  as  she  opened  her  father's  let^ 
ter. 

"I'm  not  in  fun.     We're  all  liable  to  error— even  I 
And  how  can  any  one  tell  what  a  man  all  alone  in 
159 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

London  may  be  up  to?    Since  Ive  been  at  Bab's  I've 
learned  a  thing  or  two. "  u  »  i  ve 

Vassall  and  Petrina  exchanged  glances,  but  Hi^ 
^lyta  was  too  deep  ,n  her  letter  to  heed  her  brother^ 
talk  fahe  opened  her  packages  with  pretty  pleasure 
Her  father  strmkets  filled  her  with  joy,  and  Tristram's 
boyish  gift  brought  the  shimmer  of  tears  to  her  soft 
eyes. 

'"Thank  you  so  much,  dear  old  Tristie,"  she  said 
leaning  across  the  table  to  pat  his  hand 

thl,f^lr"''^  going  to  get  something  much  better 
than  that,  you  know,"  said  the  boy.     "I  don't  know 

telhng  Henshaw  that  it  cost  a  tremendous  lot,  and  that 
she  had  put  mto  it  all  her  winnings  for  months  " 

Hippolyta  turned  scarlet. 

"Hush I"  she  whispered. 

!' Well,  she  did,''  the  boy  insisted.  "And  to  my  cer- 
tain knowledge  she's  had  very  particular  luck.  One 
night,  about  a  month  ago,  she  won  over  fifty  pounds 

ilZ^i^u-  ^heard  her  say  so.  And^otSw 
time  Dick  Lechmere  lost  to  her  more  than—" 

Do  excuse  me,  good  people,"  cried  Lady  de  Bohun 
who  rushed  mto  the  room,  with  soft  skirte  and  di- 
aphanous sleeves  all  blowing  with  her  motion.  In  one 
hand  she  held  a  white  velvet  case,  while  with  the  other 
she  was  trying  to  adjust  the  lace  knotted  at  her  throat 
I  really  did  hurry—" 

JI^T^f^  ^'^^ri"  ^  ^""y-  *"'*  y^t  never  in  time," 
said  Tristram,  with  his  mouth  full 

"  Good  -  morning,  Petrina.     Good  -  morning,   Harry 

SSghtT"^'      ''^"-  "°^'*  ^°"'  ^^^  "P  ^"'l^t 

Lady  de  Bohun  passed  round  the  table  and  pecked 
a  hasty  kiss  at  each  one  in  turn.  i«=v,Kcu 

i6o 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Good-moming,  Hippolyta.  Let  me  see  how  Hen- 
shaw  has  done  your  hair.  Well,  you  do  look  like  your 
granny.  I  suppose  we  shall  get  used  to  your  hair  like 
that.  At  present  it  makes  you  look  as  if  you  were 
dressed  up  for  private  theatricals.  Now,  don't  hold 
your  head  so  much  hke  a  Zenobia  in  chains.  It  gives 
you  a  proud  look— doesn't  it,  Petrina?— and  I'm  sure  a 
girl  of  your  age —  Oh,  by  the  way,  hej^;  is  your  pres- 
ent. Mind  you,  this  is  from  me,  not  from  your  father. 
I've  earned  every  penny  that  paid  for  it." 

"  You  mean  you've  won  it  at  cards,  mother,"  said  the 
boy. 

"It's  the  same  thing,  Tristram,"  said  his  mother, 
sharply.     "  And  please  don't  contradict." 

"I  wasn't  contradicting;  I  was  only  explaining." 

"Then  keep  your  remarks  till  they're  asked  for." 

"That  would  be  too  long.  They  won't  bear  salting 
down. " 

"No,  don't  get  up,"  Lady  de  Bohun  protested,  as 
Petrina  offered  to  yield  the  head  of  the  table.  "  I  will 
sit  here  beside  Harry.  Give  me  a  cup  of  coffee,  pour 
I'amour  de  Dieu.  My  strength  is  almost  spept.  The 
cares  of  a  family  are  too  much  for  me.  I  wasn't  meant 
to  be  left  to  struggle  on  alone  hke  this  " 

"Yet  you  manage  to  do  pretty  well,"  said  Vas- 
sall. 

"My  dear  Harry,  I  begin  every  day  like  'Phfedre'— 
at  the  highest  pitch  of  anguish." 

"Mother,  if  I  have  ever  given  you  half  the  anxiety 
that  you  and  father  have  given  me,"  Tristram  began, 
but  Lady  de  Bohun  was  paying  him  no  attention. 
She  was  looking  at  Hippolyta,  who  sat  with  eyes  down- 
cast and  burning  cheeks,  feigning  to  eat,  but  really  tak- 
ing nothing.  The  white  velvet  case  lay  unopened  be- 
side her.  Lady  de  Bohun  rolled  her  eyes  eloquently, 
•■  i6i 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

firet  towards  Petrina,  then  towards  VassaU,  thiowinff 

•"^  her  hand,  with  a  little  gesture  of  de,Jl;ir      ^' 

The  Blessed  Damoiel,"  she  murmured,  with  pinched 

lips  so  that  HippolyU  should  not  hear  "'P'"'=''«*» 

said  akud^°'IH^'"'  *°.'°°''  I'  y°"  P""""*^"  »he 
said,  aloud.       It  IS  scarcely  worth  while  spending  eiirht 

at"S  a^dtm'e.'^  "'^  "°"^"'  "'  »"  rnHxcitln"^';: 

™l!l'Tl^*t  "!'"! ''?  *y'»  ^'*  «"  expression  of  dumb 
pain  but  she  took  the  case  and  open^  it.  The  coW 
fled  from  her  cheek,  and  then  came  hotly  back  as  she 
saw  what  her  mother  had  given  her.  The  sTmSe  n.^^! 
let  of  pearls-one  row-lying  on  a  cushion  of  Sl^Wue 

It  SS  """  "°"  "^"^  ^"  ''^'  »"»'""  0^  thai 
"WeU?" 

JaV^'  '^°^"'"  "*•>  K^""'  nianaged  to  stammer 
and  turned  scarlet  again.  ""juhw, 

''How  sharper  than  a  serpent's  tooth  it  is  "  Ladv 
de  Bohun  quoted,  with  a  laugh.  '     ^^^ 

"I  am  not  a  thankless  child,  mother,"  the  girl  asserted 

c^irdi:d'r5:'  •'-^•"-^  ^^^^  »>-«''  whue^theSS 

beliJu?'*  "^^  ^°"  ''''"'  ^'^'  °'^y-  *t ""«'  ""^  l°ok« 

"Tr  *"r  ""*  V^  ^^  *°  ™e,  mother,  but-" 

n«.,  1  '  *  ^°"  *•""''  ""'  ^^'^  "»«  necklet  with  your 
new  low-cut  gown  tc^night  when  Major  Bertie  and  Afr 
Lechmere  come  to  dinner.  That  reminds  m?"  she  wS 
on^b„skly,turmng  to  Vassall:  "did  I  tell  youlSS 
L«:to^e  was  staying  over  at  Keston  Caftle  wiSiS^ 

Then  the  brother  and  sister  began  to  discuss  com 

mon  acquaintances  and  family  .fffirs.    ffi;SSa Tj 

162 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

Tristram    when  they  had  finished  breakfast,  sHpped 
quietly   from   the   room.     Petrina   slowly  sipped   her 
coffee  and  listened  in  silence,  trying  to  analyie  Err   i 
de  Bohun's  charm. 

That  she  had  charm,  her  severest  critics  never  -I  -i.tf. 
Her  beauty  was  of  the  fragile,  wistful  type,whif  1^  .•.  ii- 
ed  to  call  on  every  one  to  be  very  tender.  In  ;.  r  "ye.- 
was  that  beseeching  glance  which  claimed  Iwf.ri'.rirf! 
the  right  to  be  inconsequent  and  irrespons  ..Ic  I'H  ■ 
air  of  asceticism  which  was  spiritual  in  l^r  molti.r 
and  in  her  brother  stem,  gave  to  Lady  de  Bohn.x  ,\v 
expression  of  one  purified  seven  times  in  the  fire  ii 
conversaUon  with  her  one  felt  that  she  had  suflcn  I 
much,  and  had  had  experiences  outside  the  ordinary 
range.  Her  tone  enlisted  one's  sympathies.  A  some- 
thing pathetic  and  inefficient  in  her  mien  forced  for- 
giveness before  one  had  time  to  disapprove  Even 
her  smile  was  distant,  wan,  and  sweet  with  the  memory 
of  unutterable  things,  like  that  of  Sarah  Bernhardt  in 
La  Dame  aux  Camelias  "  or  "  Phfedre. " 
She  had  inherited  a  •countenance  whose  expression 
was  like  the  light  which  lingers  in  the  sky  long  after 
sunset— the  reflection  of  some  ancestral  fire  gone  out. 
If  in  her  face  there  were  prayers,  they  had  been  said  by 
Pepperells  and  Vassalls  now  sleeping  in  Massachusetts 
church-yards.  If  in  her  voice  there  were  tears,  they  had 
been  shed  by  those  who  would  weep  no  more.  She 
mirrored  the  emotions  she  had  never  felt;  and  all  that 
was  left  of  joys  and  .sorrows  and  spiritual  aspirations 
which  had  once  thrilled  human  hearts  was  in  that 
plaintive  echo  they  had  given  to  this  woman's  tone  and 
the  light  of  petition  they  had  left  burning  in  her  eyes. 

But  Lady  de  Bohun  made  no  conscious  use  of  these 
advantages.    Never  was  there  any  one  who  thought 
less  of  personal  appearance.     Never  was  tliere  any  one 
163 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

with  less  coquetry.  She  dressed  at  hap-hazard-  she 
s^/eJ^*  she  thought;  she  did  what  the  moment 
suggested.  Nothing  ever  went  quite  aright  with  her. 
Her  dressmaker  was  always  late;  her  cook  was  always 
dishonest;  she  herself  was  the  prey  of  unhappy  chances. 
As  Tnstram  had  just  said  of  her,  she  was  always  in  a 
hurry  yet  never  in  time.  She  was  always  busy  vet 
never  accomplishing  anything. 

But  in  contrast  with  her  air  of  inefficiency  was  the 
cleveniess  of  her  talk  and  the  unexpected  shrewdness 
of  her  judgments.     Her  mind  was  of  the  kind  which  can 
Te^^i'^lfl  ?*!l  .f,^^^ything  but  duty.     She  did  not 
reflect,  but  she  had  illuminations.     She  allowed  servanU 
to  regulate  her  domestic  aflfairs,  and  any  one  who  chose 
to  take  charge  of  her  children ;  but  she  read  extensively.  , 
rapidly,  and  retentively.     There  was  no  order  in  h« 
reading,  and  little  preference  of  taste.     Herbert  Spencer, 
Wordsworth,  and  Gabriele  d'Annunzio  were  equally  to 
her  hking;  and  her  criticisms  were  quick  and  sound, 
bhe  could  judge  of  pictures  as  of  books,  and  of  men 
«s  of  pictures.     She  expressed  herself  freely  and  frankly, 
without  self-consciousness,  but  with  a  certain  vehement 
sincerity.     She  attached  no  importance  to  saying  clever 
things;  and  had  long  forgotten  her  own  epigrams  when 
h«  wr'^  ^^  ^^^  ^"""'^  ^^  specimens  of 

"If  Emmy  had  only  married  in  Boston,"  Petrina 
vZa-^  ^^^.^^  ^""f  "'*™«1'  "«he  would  have  been 
woJw  f  °Tu^'^    ^""^  ^'"^  England  discipline 

would  have  chilled  her  impetuosity.     Our  social  sdf- 
repression  would  have  checked  her  appalling  frankness 

of  The  World.    She  would  never  have  enjoyed  the  friend- 
164 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

ship  of  a  prince:  but  she  would  have  married  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Somerset  Club,  and  had  a  house  at  Pride's 
Crossmg.  ' 

Petrina's  judgment  was  just.  Lady  de  Bohun's  nat- 
ural tendency  was  to  take  the  tone  around  her  Had 
she  raarncd  m  Boston,  she  would  have  conformed  to  Bos- 
ton standards ;  but  she  had  married  not  only  into  English 
ate,  but  mto  a  special  section  of  English  society.  From 
the  farst  day  of  her  installation  at  Orpington  Park  and 
m  turzon  Street  she  had  found  herself  surrounded  bv 
peor-'i  who  formed  a  kind  of  social  free-masonry  Some 
were  nch,  some  had  Utles,  some  had  talents;  some  had 
two  ot  these  qualificaUons,  and  some  all  three,  while 
a  very  few  had  none.  In  society  they  constituted  an 
empire  within  an  empire-and  the  throne,  like  that  of 
Kussia.  was  neither  hereditary  nor  elective,  but  oc- 
cupative.  Admission  to  their  ranks  was  both  difficult 
and  easy;  people  of  great  importance  could  some'-mes 
not  get  in,  when  the  way  was  often  open  to  the  first 
cliance  adventurer. 

The  young  American  Lady  de  Bohun  entered  at 
once,  by  a  conceded  but  inexplicable  right.  Fresh 
from  the  reticence  of  Old  Cambridge,  what  she  saw  on 
her  first  plunge  into  English  life  surprised  her.  She 
found  a  society  full  of  paradox  and  anomaly,  at  once 
more  orthodox  and  more  loose,  more  aristocratic  and 
more  lepubhcan,  than  that  she  had  left  behind  She 
found  herself  among  people  so  socially  strong,  so  nat- 
urally proud,  so  individually  free,  that  they  had  no 
need  to  restrain  themselves.  They  could  ignore  man- 
ners, because  there  was  no  one  whom  they  wished  to 
please;  they  could  transgress  morals,  because  there 
was  no  one  whom  they  were  obliged  to  respect.  They 
did  not  fear  law,  for  they  made  it;  nor  society,  for  they 
ruled  It ;  nor  the  Church,  for  they  were  patrons  of  count- 
165 


If  I 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

less  livings;  nor  pubUc  opinion,  for  they  held  it  in 
scorn.  It  IS  easy  to  elude,  or  twist,  or  turn,  or  mouW 
or  break  conventions,  when,  like  the  Duch;ss  oTX 
bleside,  one  of  your  brothers  is  Prime  Minister  ^Z 
another  an  archbishop;  while  your  Wnsfolk  I'd  ac 
quaantance  make  up  a  handsome  proporti'on  of  ^l 
clergy,  the  army,  the  navy,  the  learnt  Sessions 
the  House  of  Commons,  and  the  House  of  Lords  li 
^„    1^  to  be  capncious,  and  something  more    when 

dtLu°^  ^^i^^  ^"7  P^P'^  ^h°  -^ondlmn  your  acls 
dehght  m  the  honor  of  your  friendship.  The  Duches^ 
of  Ambleside  found  herself  in  a  position  to  assS 
towards  morahty  and  etiquette  the  attitude  whkh  she 
took  towards  grammar-the  wrong  became  right  S 
cause  she  did  it.     Lady  Yorkshire  could  ^  the  saniT 

^Z^^"y°M'^  1°  "^^  '^"''-  ^KllionaiVes  Uke  Z 
^S'-  t^i  '■  ^'"''^^"Pr^rted  the  privilegerof 
birOi  with  money.  Actresses  like  Mrs.  Tredellv 
painters  like  Hartley  Payne,  and  singers  hke  ES 
de  Prony  brought  the  aid  of  art.     There  wa^e  journal! 

Sty    ^ircot^'^V""''  "'"'^^  *°  add  resS- 
bJhty.    The  combination  was  powerful  but  co-onera 

the  consciousness  that  she  had  wandered  very  far  W 
the  traditional  mother's  knee  ^  "^ 

ure,  and  to  Uie  adoration  of  naked  wealtk     She  did 
i66 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

not  at  first  accept  very  easily  the  attentions  of  men 
other  than  her  husband;  and  with  regard  to  cards 
she  was  ndiculously  Puritan.  The  difference  between 
American  and  English  materiaUsm  she  found  hard  to 
understand.  In  her  own  country  she  had  known  men 
who  worked  grimly,  unflaggingly,  and  often  sordidly 
for  money,  as  an  end;  in  England,  tho.se  with  whom 
she  was  thrown  snatched  wildly,  openly,  and  often 
hysterically,  at  it,  as  a  means.  It  surprised  her  to  ob- 
serve that  at  a  time  when  Americans  were  endeavoring 
to  advance  by  putting  ideals  before  money,  the  English 
whom  she  knew  were  beginning  to  retrograde,  by  put- 
ting money  before  ideals. 

In  the  religious  attitude  of  those  around  her  she  was 
equally  perplexed.  She  had  sprung  from  a  people  who 
were  strict  about  morals,  but  gave  large  hberty  in  mat- 
ters of  faith;  she  found  herself  among  those  who  were 
strict  about  faith,  but  gave  large  liberty  in  matters  of 
morals. 

But  these  and  all  other  questions  were  solved  as  she 
went  on  and  gained  experience.  She  was  able  in  time 
to  take  the  English  point  of  view  better  than  the  Amer- 
ican. She  adapted  herself  slowly,  but  with  great  suc- 
cess. A  moment  came  when  she  conceded  the  point 
that  conversation  between  men  and  women  had  better 
be  free  than  reticent.  After  that  her  popularity  mount- 
ed rapidly.  The  httle  things  she  whispered  to  her 
neighbors  at  table  were  repeated  later  amid  roars  of 
laughter  in  the  smoking-room,  and  dubbed  American. 
Next,  she  overcame  her  prejudice  with  regard  to  cards. 
When  she  did  so  she  played  with  skill;  and  her  luck 
became  the  subject  of  remark.  As  years  went  by  the 
demure  little  maiden  who  had  grown  up  in  Old  Cam- 
bridge under  Mrs.  Vassall's  wing  disappeared  in  the 
quick-witted  woman  of  the  world— a  favorite  at  Amble- 
167 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

side  House  and  a  frequent  guest  at  the  parties  made 
up  in  those  days  to  meet  the  Prince. 

As  Petrina  Ustened  while  the  brother  and  sister  talked 
she  knew  that  Vassall  was  wincing  inwardly  at  (he 
plainness  of  his  sister's  speech.  She  understood  now 
why  Mrs.  Vassall  had  not  visited  her  daughter  for  more 
than  seven  years. 

*.,^"«  ^f  ^^1  ^^^""^  •'^"^"  ^^y  de  Bohun  had 
the  effect  of  a  temptation-something  which  shocked 
and  yet  attracted  her,  which  appalled  her  and  yet  filled 
her  with  a  certain  envy.  ^^ 


CHAPTER  IV 

SmL  gossiping  of  things  and  people  in  Boston 
and  Cambridge,  Lady  de  Bohun,  Petrina,  and  Vas- 
saU  stroUed  from  the  breakfast -room  to  the  terrace 
and  sat  down  on  a  garden  seat  under  a  great  yew- 
tree  The  beUs  of  Bishop's  Orpington  Church  were 
pealmg  from  the  other  side  of  the  park. 

Presently  Tristram  come  forth,  wearing  a  high  hat 
and  gloves,  a  cane  in  his  right  hand  and  a  huge  prayer- 
book  tucked  under  his  left  arm. 

"Who's  coming  to  church?"  he  asked,  standing  at 
'^™f.,,!       distance  from  the  three  under  the  yew-tree 
Why  on  earth  do  you  want  to  go  to  church  on  a 
ul  ^y  ^'^^  ""^^"  Lady  de  Bohun  cried,  languidly 
To  learn  how  to  set  a  good  example  to  my  chil- 
dren, when  I  get  'em,"  rephed  Tristram. 

"While  you  are  at  it,"  Lady  de  Bohun  returned 
more  briskly,  you  might  see  what  there  is  on  the  sub- 
ject of  honoring  your  father  and  mother." 

"Oh,  I've  known  that  a  long  time,  mamma  dear,  only 
you  and  papa  don't  give  me  any  chance  to  show  it  " 
Tnstram  turned  on  his  heel  and  walked  away 
"Do  you  know,"  Lady  de  Bohun  confided,  in  a  low- 
ered voice,  '  I  sometimes  wish  that  boy  had  been  bom 
without  a  tongue." 

"  He  has  such  a  boyish  face  that  his  speeches  are  un- 
canny,   said  Petrina. 

iJ'Pu'}.^^^''''^  y°"'"  ^^^y  ^'=  ^°hun  cried,  in  a  tone 

that  had  tears  in  it,  "he  makes  me  feel  quite  like  Ham- 

169 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

let's  mother.  He  talks  as  if  he  knew  things  beyond 
his  years.  It  frightens  me.  Not,  indeed,  that  there  is 
anything  for  him  to  know,  but—"  Lady  de  Bohun 
stopped  herself  as  she  saw  her  daughter,  too,  come  out 
of  the  house  on  her  way  to  church.  "  There's  Hippol- 
yta.  She's  off,  of  course.  She  never  mi,sses— and  the 
choir-boys  sing  so  dreadfully  out  of  t-a.e.  I  simply 
can  t  go ;  it  gives  me  a  headache.  And  I  m  sure  there's 
somebody  buned  under  our  pew— I  have  such  a  smoth- 
mng  feeling  every  time  I  sit  in  it.  How  do  you  like 
Hippolyta  s  hat?  That  sort  of  broad  Leghorn  is  be- 
coming to  her,  I  think." 

"She  is  really  too  divine,"  said  Petrina. 

"  That's  just  it,"  complained  Lady  de  Bohun.    "  She's 
the  gentle  being  quite 

'"Too  good  for  human  nature's  daily  food,' 

if  I  may  alter  the  lines.  She'll  frighten  the  men  away  " 
,  Let  s  hope  so,"  said  Vassall.  "  There  isn't  a  man 
ma  miUion  good  enough  for  her. " 

" That's  all  very  fine,"  sighed  Lady  de  Bohun.  " But 
you  won  t  have  to  take  her  out  next  winter  " 
"No— worse  luck,"  Vassall  assented 
Hippolyta  had  crossed  from  the  house  and  was  about 
to  descend  to  the  terrace  below.     She  paused  for  a  sec- 
ond, and  looked  over  at  the  group  and  smiled.     Far 
down  the  slopes  of  the  park  Tristram's  sturdy  figure 
could  be  seen  trudging  off  towards  Bishop's  Orpington 
VasiucaTreS.''^"'  *°  "^^^  """  ^*  ^°"'  "ippolyta?'' 
"You  know  I  do." 

"Oh,  Harry  don't  go,"  pleaded  Petrina.    "  Hippolyta 
won't  mind.     It's  so  lovely  here."  Pi"'y« 

"  Yes,  let  him  go,"  Lady  de  Bohun  insisted.    " Then 
170 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

we  shall  have  the  house  to  ourselves,  and  I  do  so  want 
to  have  a  long  talk  with  you.  I  can't  talk  before  Harry  • 
he's  so  unsympathetic.  It's  like  singing  to  a  person 
who  has  no  ear  for  music.  Do  go,  Harry.  Wait,  Hip- 
polyta.  Your  uncle  is  going  with  you." 
So  Vassal!  went. 

"How  you've  tidied  him  up!"  Lady  de  Bohun  re- 
marked, a  few  minutes  later,  as  her  brother,  very  care- 
fully dressed,  walked  across  the  park  at  Hippolyta's 
side.  "He  used  to  be  so  indifferent  about  what  he 
wore. " 

"I  think  he  is  improved,"  Petrina  admitted. 

"Immensely.  He's  so  much  more  human  than  he 
used  to  be.  The  social  side  of  life  interested  him  so 
little. " 

"  And  not  enough  yet. " 

"But  you'll  bring  him  to  it;  I  can  see  that.  He  is 
really  very  good-looking,  when  you  come  to  study  his 
face.  It  never  struck  me  before.  I  feel  about  him  as 
one  does  about  a  familiar  bit  of  family  furniture,  to 
which  you  never  paid  any  attention  until  some  one  else 
admired  it." 

"He  was  only  your  brother,  you  see." 

"I  was  simply  amazed  when  I  heard  you  were  going 
to  marry  him." 

"Not  unpleasantly,  I  hope." 

"Heavens,  no.  I  knew  it  would  be  the  making  of 
him,  and  it  is.     Only  don't — " 

"  Yes?"  asked  Petrina,  as  Lady  de  Bohun  hesitated 
"Don't  what?" 

"Don't  set  going  a  machine  which  you  can't  control. 
Never  forget  the  moral  of  Frankenstein." 

"I  suppo,se  you  are  not  speaking  out  of  a  bitter  ex- 
perience," Petrina  laughed.  "  Humphrey  doesn't  seem 
to  me  exacting." 

171 


Let  Not   M?n  Put  Asunder 

"Poor  Humphreyl"  Lady  de  Bohun  cried,  throwing 
up  her  hands  in  perplexity.  "What  a  problem  I 
have  to  deal  with  there  I" 

"Problem?" 

"Yes,  problem.  I  must  decide  w/.nther  to  keep  him 
as  he  IS  or  let  him  go." 

"Let  him  go  to  what  extent?" 

" To  any  extent.  I  haven't  told  v  j^  yet  that  I  have 
begun  my  proceedings  for  divorce.  1  i^at's  why  I  wanted 
Harry  to  go  to  church.  I  wished  to  tell  you. "  I  can  see 
you  are  horrified." 

"Not  horrified  exactly,  Emmy  dear;  but  I  can't  help 
wondenng — "  "^ 

"No  of  co'irse  not;  nor  L  I  am  wondering  all  the 
time.  It  IS  so  hard  to  decide  whether  to  go  on  with  it 
or  not. " 

"Then  you  could  still  withdraw?  ' 

"I  am  extremely  cautious.  All  that  I've  done  as 
yet  I.S  to  consult  Sir  Charies  Freeman.  He  tells  me 
that  I  can  have  a  decree  nisi—1  think  that's  what  he 
called  it— whenever  I  like  to  press  for  it." 

''Wouldn't  Humphrey  defend  it?" 

"He  simply  couldn't.     He  would  never  attempt  it 

^/^^  '^^^'  ^^  ^  '^^  y°"  ^^""^  I  had  met  Hetty  Vienne?'' 
Oh,  Emmy!     How  could  you?" 

/'1*^"^L™^  ^^^""^  I'  was  most  interesting.  It  was 
at  that  big  the  chantant  given  for  the  King's  Cross 
Hospital.  Of  course  they  had  a  lot  of  actresses  to  recite 
and  sing  and  wait  at  table,  and  among  them  if  you 
please,  was  Miss  Hetty  Vienne.  Did  you  ever  hear 
f^J^ru  *  "^™^-"  Lady  de  Bohun  went  on,  vehemenUy 

Why  shouldn't  she  just  as  well  call  herself  Hettv 

Bruxelles  or  Hetty  Geneve?    Of  course  she  made  it  up" 

these  acting  women  are  bom   with  such  ridiculous 

patronymics.     There  was   Lucy  Fitzalan,  thai  Hum- 

172 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

phrey  was  so  crazy  about— but  it's  no  use  raking  up 
ancient  history  of  that  kind.  At  any  rate,  her  real  name 
was  Matilda  Tabb.  I  think  it  was  the  discovery  of 
that  genteel  fact  that  really  put  an  end  to  Humphrey's 
infatuation.  But  I  was  telling  you  about  Hetty  Vienne 
—Hetty  Pidge,  or  Pudge,  most  likely.  Well,  when  I 
heard  she  was  actually  there,  and  that  people  were 
watching  to  see  if  some  accident  would  throw  us  to- 
gether, I  determined  that  thej  .houldn't  look  in  vain. 
I  asked  Gerald  Bertie  to  introduce  her  to  me." 
"He  ought  to  have  refused." 

"  He  did.     I  had  to  insist.     He  gave  way  only  when 
he  saw  that  if  he  didn't  I  should  find  some  one  else  who 
would." 
''And  she?    What  was  she  like?" 
Charming— perfectly  charming.     A  pretty  girl,  fair, 
blue-eyed— a  little  made-up— and  with  the  nicest  man- 
ners.    It  was  difficult  to  believe— but  then  it  always  is 
difficult  to  believe.     Take  AgneU  Yorkshire,  for  in- 
stance.    If  you  didn't  knoio—" 
"  But  what  did  you  talk  about?" 
"Why,  about  Humphrey." 
"Ob,  no,  Emmy." 

"Mais  si.     She  began  it,  by  saying,  almost  at  once, 
1  m  so  glad  to  meet  you.  Lady  de  Bohun.     I  think  I 
know  your  husband.'    My  dear,  it  was  better  than 
anything  on  the  stage.     'I  think  I  know ' I " 
"Wasn't  it  dreadfully  embarrassing?" 
"Not  in  the  least.     I  replied,  'I  think  I  have  heard 
him  speak  of  you.  Miss  Vienne ' ;  and  then  I  made  her 
sit  down  and  have  tea  with  me.     It  was  perfectly  lovely. 
Everybody  stared ;  and  they  say  the  Prince  was—" 
"I  can't  think  that  it  was  right,  Emmy." 
"Of  course  it  wasn't.     But  I've  never  regretted  it, 
especiallj  as  Humphrey  himself  came  in  and  saw  it  all.' 
173 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

Poor  man,  if  I  ever  had  anything  against  him,  I  had 
my  vengeance  then.  He  strolled  down  the  great  haU, 
snuhng  his  wonderful  smile  quite  gratis  to  every  one 
who  came  in  his  way— when  all  at  once,  when  he  was 
expecting  nothmg  in  particular,  he  saw  us  two  sitting 
gossiping  over  our  tea.  Petrina,  I  felt  myself  repaid 
for  having  married,  just  to  have  had  that  moment, 
hhe  didn  t  see  him,  and  I  never  let  him  know  that  I 
did.  He  grew  first  red,  then  while,  and  then  turned 
and  fled.  It  was  a  sight  to  see,  and  was  worth  more 
than  ttie  price  of  admission.    They  say  the  Prince 

"  But  how  did  it  end?    How  did  you  separate?" 

"Oh,  naturally,  I  couldn't  let  her  go  feeling  that  I  had 
met  her  as  an  equal." 

"No?    But  how?" 

"Just  by  chance ;  I  am  always  ha\nng  those  chances. 
BesBdes  I  was  looking  for  an  opening.  She  had  just 
smd-why,  I  m  sure  I  don't  know-that  she  was  an 
officer  s  daughter.  'Commissioned?'  I  asked,  quite  in- 
nocently, and  rising  as  I  spoke.  She  colored  a  Kttle 
and  said,  'I  didn't  know  there  was  any  other  kind  ' 
Oh,  yes  I  answered,  sweetly,  'there  are  the  non-coni- 
missioned- corporals,  and  sergeants,  and  such -like, 
uood-bye.     So  glad  to  have  met  you. '  " 

''  And  Humphrey  has  never  said—?" 

"Never.  It  is  one  of  his  gifts  to  know  when  to  let 
well  enough  alone.  I  wonder  whether  I  have  the  same 
faculty." 

"If  you  have  I  should  think  that  now  was  the  time 
to  make  use  of  it.  I  don't  see  how  you  are  going  to  im- 
prove your  position  by  divorce.  In  fact,  you  might 
easily  make  it  worse." 

"Not  among  the  really  nice  people.    They  almost 
like  you  better  for  the  sensation  and  the— the  scandal 
174 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


And  about  the  rest  of  the  world  one  doesn't 


Petrina 


you  know, 
care." 

arS'''''  """"•'"y  •"'«*»*  "^"y  «Bain/ 

"  R**!  ^»*L   I  am  PosiUve  of  the  contrary.  " 
^  But  If  he  did,  how  should  you  feel?" 
^^  Perhaps  a   twinge  or  two;    perhaps   nothing  at 

wii7«'  Z  ^""'''^'  ?"™y'"  *«•'*  P^Wna,  speaking 

2  l^^fff  ,f  "I'"**'-    ""«'■  "»  the  lo\ryou 
used  to  feel  for  Humphrey  quite  died  away?" 

Love,     said  Lady  de  Bohun,  slowly-"  love  as  I 

understand  It,  is  Uke  a  garment.    Whe^  it  is  new  we 

wear  it  with  pleasure.    When  it  has  lost  its  frwlTn^s 

t"4Trand11■K!,'\''rP^^    WhenhiroMw^ 
twist  It  and  turn  ,t  and  try  to  make  it  serve  some  useful 

d^ih    ii^lK  ?^^  "'""'^  ^^^  *«  «e  tired  to 

^^  But  there  are  new  garments. " 
And  there  is  new  love." 

eacXhS^'  *  "^  ^"^  *°'^"  '^^•^  ""-^^  «=«'««  ^°' 
"They  can  become  as  if  they  had  never  cared  at  all 
Itt«  Tt  "^  "?M  '"^'*'^'^  °^  Passion-which  d^er: 
f«?ron      Tl»r„,''''"lf  °'  Wendship,  or  any  other  af- 

toce  behS  ^  T^  ^"  ^'^'  ''"*  *"y  '^^«  «»»«  ^ort  of 
trace  behind.     Love  can  go,  and  leave  no  trace;  and 

once  gone  it  is  as  impossible  to  recover  as  a  n«^,^P 
scattered  by  the  wind.  Humphre^and  T  could^ever 
ove  again,  for  the  very  reasonLtVeWlovedW 

b^rold^X:  ^'LreT.^™  -  ^^^  --  dearth, 
;;And  with  you-?    But  I  ought  not  to  ask." 
Yes,  ask,  Petnna.    Besides,  I  know  what  you  mean 
175 


*iic»ocory  »esoiution  tbi  chadt 

(ANSI  ond  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


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g%=  ?-?f ??*!•';  ""•  ''O'''         1*609       USA 

i"-^e  (^'6)   *e2  -  03OO  -  Phone 

^=  (716)  288 -5989 -Fax 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


to  say,  and  I  don't  quite  see  how  to  reply  to  you.  There 
is  some  one — " 

"  Oh!     Isn't  it  rather — rather — soon?" 

"  A  cause  can't  be  soon,  if  there  is  an  effect." 

"I  wonder  if  it  is  Major — ?" 

"Yes,  Major  Bertie;  you've  guessed.  Of  course  you 
would  see  it  before  long." 

"What  is  he  like?" 

"I  think  I  will  let  you  wait  and  see.  He  comes  to 
dinner  to-night.  He  is  very  EngUsh,  fair  and  florid, 
and  rather  attractive." 

"That  isn't  very  strong  language." 

"He's  clever,  too.  He  paints  a  little,  and  writes  a 
little.  He  had  a  very  bad  picture  in  the  Academy  one 
year,  and  he  has  published  two  tolerably  good  books 
of  travel.  He  is  the  sort  of  man  who  passes  for  very 
brilliant  in  the  army,  but  he  wouldn't  be  considered  so 
elsewhere." 

"  And  yet  you  really  care  for  him?" 

"  If  so,  it  isn't  for  his  talents.  He  has  other  qualifi- 
cations." 

"What  are  they?" 

"In  the  first  place,  he  is  very  nice.  I  use  the  word 
nice,  because  it  is  vague.  It  means  much  or  little,  or 
anything  or  nothing;  and  I  will  leave  you  to  make  the 
interpretation." 

"And  in  the  second  place?" 

"  He  is  very  rich.  He  inherited  Keston  and  a  lot  of 
money  two  years  ago  from  some  sort  of  uncle.  Then, 
he  has  prospects.  He  is  heir  presumptive  to  his  brother, 
the  Earl  of  Ullswater,  and  of  course  that  means—" 

"  Yes,  I  see.    And  is  there  a  third  place?" 

"He  is  very  influential.     It  would  be  a  good  thing 
for  the  children  to  be  under  such  a  man  as  he,  and  nat- 
urally a  mother  always  thinks  first  of — " 
176 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

"Naturally,"  said  Petrina,  dryly,  stealing  a  glance 
at  Lady  de  Bohun's  face,  but  seeing  nothing  but  an 
air  of  seraphic  sweetness. 

"I  ought  to  say  that  I  am  not  positively  sure  of 
his  attitude.  The  affair  is  as  yet  only  in  the  platonic 
stage." 

"  And  might  remain  there?" 

"Yes;  or  he  might  even— recede.  I  can't  quite  make 
him  out.  He  has  compromised  a  lot  of  people,  and  yet 
with  me  he  has  never  taken  the  slightest  Uberty." 

"I  should  take  that  as  a  sign  that  he  is  serious." 

"I  do;  but  a  sign  is  not  a  certainty.  Men  are  like 
the  weather.  They  often  promise  sunshine,  and  then 
shift  round  and  give  you  showers." 

"  So  that  you  want  to  be  sure  of  the  new  love  before 
you  are  quite  off  with  the  old?" 

"That  isn't  just  my  attitude.  If  the  new  love  offers 
itself  I  should  like  to  be  free  to  accept  it  or  reject  it,  as 
I  chose.  But  I  know  I  should  be  horribly  mortified  if  I 
took  the  trouble  to  make  myself  free,  and  then  the  new 
love  didn't  come.     Now  you  see  my  perplexity." 

"  Yes,"  said  Petrina.  "  But  I  think  you  might  assure 
yourself  beforehand — " 

"  That  next  year  will  be  a  good  year  for  roses.  My 
dear,  the  one  is  as  easy  as  the  other. " 

Petrina  did  not  reply.  For  a  long  time  the  two  sat 
silent,  gazing  absently  over  the  landscape  of  billowy 
green — each  busy  with  her  own  thoughts. 

"  You  said,  I  think,  that  Harry's  friend,  Mr.  Lechmere, 
was  coming  to  dinner  toe?" 

"  Yes.  He  is  spending  Sunday  with  Gerald  at  Keston 
Castle." 

"We  saw  his  wife  the  other  night,  at  the  Carlton 
House  Hotel." 

"Oh,  Felicia.     Isn't  she  charming?" 
177 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

"It  was  at  a  distance,  and  one  couldn't  be  quite  sure. 
Do  you  know  her?" 

"Well." 

"  I  should  like  immensely  to  meet  her. " 

"Any  time  you  please,  dear.  I  will  ask  you  and 
Harry  to  lunch  or  dine  with  her  the  next  time  I  am  in 
town." 

"No;  not  Harry.  He  doesn't  hke  women  of  that 
kind. 

"Then  it  is  just  as  well  for  him.     But  if  Humphre 
had  been  Hke  that  I  should  be  beating  my  wings  no 
like  a  canary  in  a  cage.    Thank  the  Lord,  at  least  that 
door  is  open." 

"■Tell  me  all  about  Madame  de  Prony.  She  rather 
fascinates  me." 

"I  couldn't  tell  you  all  about  her  if  I  wrote  a  book. 
She's  the  most  extraordinary  creature  I" 

"Is  she  nice?" 

"Yes;  if,  as  I  said  just  now,  you  take  nice  as  a  vague 
word,  admitting  of  any  interpretation. " 

"Is  she— how  shall  I  put  it?— is  she  a  lady?" 

"Lady  is  also  vague;  but  if  you  take  the  word  in  its 
very  vaguest  sense,  she  is." 

"Then  I  wonder  that  you  know  her  so  well." 

"Oh,  one  meets  her  everywhere  now.  They  say  her 
character  would  make  her  a  celebrity  even  if  she  hadn't 
a  voice;  so  naturally  people  are  glad  to  have  her;  she 
makes  their  parties  talked  about,  and  that,  of  course,  is 
everything.  I  wonder,  though,  why  you  should  take 
such  an  interest  in  her?    Is  it  on  account  of  Dick?" 

"Partly;  but  I  am  always  attracted  by  those  of  whom 
the  world  speaks  evil." 

"You  will  find  Felicia  a  perfect  magnet,  then.  You 
knew  Dick  wanted  her  lo  take  him  back,  didn't  you?" 

"No!    Really?"  ^ 

178 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 
"  wH?'  "  ^^^'^"  P^*""a  asked. 

*K?|^ ---■:* -„^v«'^"™' 

^_  1  hat  isn  t  saying  much. " 

ing  he" 'r„jTdoS'tV  l"fr  '°^^'"^"  him  for  divorc- 
wLeK.'"     ^  ^  '^°"  *  '^""^  '^^'  "°^  P°°-  Dick  forgives 
"And  yet  he  couldn't  have—" 

beioming'a  LZ^eT  ^^'~*"',r  "''^-     "^  -- 
Dickisn^aLorfYorkshJe.'-'^"""^'"'  ""^'^'"^^  ^"'l 
Then  how  is  he  now'" 

1  think  you  can,  too  " 
,^l  should  like  to/-  said   Petrina,  softly.      "I  wiU 


CHAPTER  V 

As  they  left  the  church  Hippoly'  i  stopped  to  speak 
to  an  elderly  lady  in  the  habit  of  a  religious  order. 
Vassall  waited.     Tristram  trudged  off  homeward. 

"Who  is  that?"  Vassall  asked,  when  Hippolyta  came 
up  to  him.  He  looked  after  the  nun,  who  had  joined 
a  company  of  some  twenty  sisters  dressed  like  herself, 
in  flowing  veils  and  mantles. 

"  That  is  the  Mother  Superior  of  the  Sisters  of  St.  Luke 
the  Physician,  who  have  their  house  of  rest  near  here. 
They  go  about  nursing  the  sick  poor  in  their  own  homes." 

"Moving  like  that  amid  the  blossoming  may,,  they 
look  like  the  procession  of  nuns  in  the  last  act  of 
'Cyrano  de  Bergerac.'" 

"They  do  a  noble  work,"  said  Hippolyta,  gravely, 
as  she  and  Vassall  passed  through  the  churchyard  to 
take  the  path  towards  Orpington  Park. 

"Uncle  Harry,"  said  the  giri,  after  a  pause,  "do  you 
think  mother  would  ever  consent  to  my  going  into  St. 
Luke's  and  becoming  one  of  the  o-der?" 

She  flushed  and  spoke  timidly.  Vassall  hesitated 
before  replying. 

"Aren't  you  too  youn^-  to  think  of  it?"  he  asked. 

"  Too  young  to  decivie,  perhaps,  but  not  too  young  to 
think." 

"Before  taking  so  serious  a  step,  a  girl  ought  to 
know  not  only  what  she  is  going  to,  but  what  she  is, 
giving  up.  She  should  see  something  of  the  world  be- 
fore renouncing  it." 

l8o 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"But  I  have  seen  so  much." 

Vassall  glanced  sharply  at  his  niece,  who  walked  on 
with  head  uplifted,  like  a  Zenobia  in  chains,  as  Lady 
de  Bohun  had  said  at  breakfast. 

''You  are  only  eighteen,"  said  Vassall,  with  a  smile. 

"And  yet  I  know  more  than  many  a  woman  of 
twenty-eight." 

"You  are  scarcely  out  of  school." 

"My  school  has  been  there,"  she  said,  pointing  to 
the  long,  gray  house,  now  visible  upon  its  terraced  hill. 

"  In  one's  own  home—"  Vassall  began. 

"  There  are  many  lessons,"  she  interrupted,  "  and  I've 
learned  them  all.  There  are  some  things  about  which 
there  isn't  much  left  for  me  to  know.  If  I  entered  the 
convent  to-day,  it  would  be  with  no  illusions  whatever 
about  the  life  I  was  leaving  behind." 

"There  is  an  age  at  which  we  all  feel  that." 

"With  me  it  is  no  question  of  age.  I  have  never 
been  young,  not  any  more  than  Tristram  is  young. 
They  tell  us  that  young  people  shouldn't  know  what 
we  know.  How  can  we  be  ignorant  when  we  see  the 
things  we  see  and  hear  the  things  we  hear.  There 
was  a  time,  so  my  grandmother  de  Bohun  says,  when 
children  were  innocent.  If  so,  it  was  in  the  days  when 
parents  were  reticent.  How  can  we  be  young  when 
our  father  and  mother  live  apart?  Of  course  there  is 
a  reason  for  their  doing  so,  and  how  can  we  not  guess 
what  that  reason  is?" 

"  But  it  is  just  here  that  young  people's  guesses  are 
so  likely  to  be  wrong." 

"How  can  we  go  wrong  when  we  have  listened  all 
our  lives  to  the  table-talk  of  people  Hke  the  Duchess  of 
Ambleside  and  Madame  de  Prony  and  Major  Bertie, 
and  others  whom  it  was  an  indiscretion  merely  to  allovv 
UE,  to  know?  Only  on  Thursday  Tristram  and  I  went 
i8r 


l^'il 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

over  with  mother  to  lunch  at  Keston  Castle.  Thev 
talked  of  Lord  and  Lady  Yorkshire  and  Mr.  Amos"^ 
and  do  you  suppose  we  diH„'t  understand?  The  verv 
wmks  and  „.k1s  with  whicn  they  reminded  each  othe^ 
that  there  were  two  young  people  at  theTabTe  emn£ 

t^am  ,  fir"''  u  °"^^*  "°*  '"  *>«-  perceived.  Tis- 
tram  IS  fifteen.     He  >s  at  a  school  where  the  other  boys 

as  h^e  nl'.'JJ.  """T"'  ^l"""'^  '""P'^^'  information 
as  he  pjcks  up  „i  his.     He  is  naturally  a  good  boy 

He  has  a  keen  moral  sense  and  something  very  ster- 

mg  >n  his  nature     He  hates  all  this-this  impropnety 

It  revolts  h.m.     U„t  the  boys  at  his  school  make  a  oke 

of  It,  and  he  is  growing  to  do  it  too.     Oil,  Uncle  Harrv 

fhe  consent.'' '"""'""  '''"^  "^"""^  *°  '^'  ""^  ^°  ^"^0 
"  I  will  taik  of  it  with  her,  if  you  like,  but  you  couldn't 
take  any  such  step  for  a  long  while  to  come." 

I  should  be  willing  to  wait  if  only  I  had  the  hope  of 
one  day  being  free.  ^ 

bonI°g"e."^"  ^^^  """'"^  ^'■""^  ^  '^"""^^  '^y  "  ^«s 
"Yes,  I  know  how  you  feel.  But  you  haven't  lived 
my  hfe.  Uncle  Harry.  You  don't  know  what  it  is  to 
love  your  parents  without  being  able  to  respect  them  " 
Don  t  you  think  you  ought  to  try  not  to  judge  your 
elders  more  than  you  can  help?"  s    j'l  ui 

"I  do  try.     I  know  my  father  is  good.     I  know  mam- 
ma is  good.     And  vet—" 

"And  yet  what?" 

"I  don't  know.  There  is  something  very  wrong, 
though  I  cannot  say  what  it  is.  I  feel  it  here.  I  know 
u.  1  live  m  It.  But  when  you  ask  me  to  define  it  it 
escapes  me  It  is  like  the  necklet  mother  gave  me  this 
mornmg.  It  was  kind  of  her.  She  did  it  became  she 
loves  me.  And  yet  I  can  never  wear  it  " 
182 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


Your  mother  would  be  hurt 


"You  must  wear  it. 
if  you  didn't." 

"I  never  could.  Uncle  Harry.  It  would  sting  me. 
I  should  feel  as  if  I  were  wearing  shame." 

"I  think  you  exaggerate,  Hippolyta." 

"Notliing  could  exaggerate  what  I  should  feel. 
Didn't  you  hear  Tristram  say  how  mamma  paid  for 
it?  She  didn't  pay  for  it.  Mr.  Lechmere  and  Major 
Bertie,  and  so  many  others,  paid  for  it." 

"But  public  opinion  recognizes  gambling." 

"I  don't,"  she  said,  proudly.  "If  you  had  seen, 
as  I  saw,  not  a  month  ago,  when  we  were  last  at 
Clandge's,  Mrs.  Tredelly  biting  her  lip  to  keep  back 
the  tears  when  she  lost  I  don't  know  how  much 
money,  after  she  had  leen  to  dinner  with  mamma- 
if  you  had  heard,  as  I  heard,  Mr.  Hartley  Payne  go 
cursing  away  from  the  hotel  because  he  too  had  lost 
more  than  he  could  afford,  you  would  know  why  I 
would  wear  drops  of  blojd  or  beads  of  fire  round 
my  neck  rather  than  the  pearls  their  money   paid 

Vassal!  glanced  again  at  the  girl.  She  still  walked 
on  with  head  erect;  but  a  deep  spot  of  scarlet  was  burn- 
ing on  each  cheek.  He  had  too  much  sympathy  with 
her  point  of  view  to  dare  to  counsel  her. 

"I  think  your  mother  would  be  hurt  if  you  didn't 
wear  the  necklace,"  he  repeated. 

"I  couldn't,"  she  replied,  and  he  said  no  more 

In  the  afternoon,  between  tea  and  dinner,  he  found  an 
opportunity  to  confide  to  his  wife  something  of  what 
tlippolyta  had  said  in  the  morning. 

""Those  nuns  have  turned  her  head,"  Petrina  com- 
mented.      Perhaps  it  isn't  unnatural  at  her  age-  but 
of  course  it  will  pass.     She  will  feel  differently  after  she 
IS  presented  and  begins  to  go  out  a  bit.    I  am  afraid 
183 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Harry  that  she  has  something  of  the  Vassall  tendency 
towards  self-nghteousness." 

"If  so  it  flourishes  on  very  stony  ground,"  he  replied, 
with  a  slight  flush.  "I  can't  imagine  how  any  one 
could  live  in  the  surroundings  in  which  poor  Hippolvta 
has  grown  up  and  yet  remain  self-righteous.    As  a 

Teh-'"    '"''''  ^**^  ^^^  "  ^^^^  °^  "'"'^^^  touching 

"And  of  therefore  being  defiled.    That  is  only  her 

inexperience.    As  one  grows  older  one  learns  how  to 

k^  cki  ^  "^      substance  from  hand  to  hand,  and  yet 

"I  know  that  women  think  so  nowadays,  but  it  is  a 
very  dangerous  game." 

"That  is  what  makes  it  so  diverting.  A  sportsman 
hke  you  must  know  the  excitement  of  risk ;  and,  socially 
speaking,  there  is  no  risk  without  something  risque." 

1  am  not  of  your  opinion,"  he  said,  moodily 
...  ^  y?"  J™°w,"  she  laughed,  "that  is  one  of  the 
things  I  hke  about  you?  You're  immensely  impressive 
as  a  man.  Nobody  ever  forgets  you  or  pas.ses  you  by 
And  yet  you  are  as  prudish  as  an  old  maid-only  that 
old  maids  aren't  prudish  any  longer.  They're  often 
the  very  worst.  The  things  I've  heard  them  tell  would 
make  your  hair  stand  on  end.  But  that's  what  I  like 
Your  hair  Wd  stand  on  end ;  while  that  of  most  people 
wouldn  t.  ^ 

"What  nonsen.se I" 

f  l^u,  ^  ^"-  F^  ^  f*«=*-  '^°"  «*■»  keep  something 
of  the  bloom  on  the  peach,  and  that's  so  rare.  I  wouldn't 
tor  anything  have  you  hear  some  of  the  stories  told  in 
t-nncess  Hans's  smoking-room.  And  when  we  go  back 
to  Boston  Mrs.  Bowdoin  Somerset's  beer-and-cheese  re- 
ceptions on  Sunday  nights  will  startle  you." 
' Do  you  mean  to  tell  me  that  you  go  to  theml" 
184 


Let  Not    Man   Put  Asunder 

"  Yes,  dear ;  and,  p  case  God,  you  will  too.  Oh,  there's 
the  dressing- bell.  Sor  Hippolytal  If  sht  doesn't 
wear  the  thing,  there  \  .il  be  trouble.  Look  her.  Harry 
Go  away  and  let  me  dress.  I'll  do  it  quickly.  Then  i 
shall  go  to  her.     I  am  sure  I  could  talk  her  into  reason. " 

The  task  was  difficult,  but  Petrina's  confidence  in 
herself  was  justified.  When  she  entered  the  drawing- 
room,  a  Uttle  late  for  dinner,  Hippolyta  was  at  her  side. 
^  ,^' .  ^i"""^  ^^'^  •'''""S  of  pearls.  Her  downcast  eyes 
and  look  of  shame  passed  for  tie  shyness  incidental  to  a 
nrst  real  dinner  dress. 

"Pelrina  made  me  see  the  matter  differently,"  she 
whispered  to  Vassall  as  they  went  in  to  dinner.  "I 
was  wrong  in  setting  my  own  judgment  up  above 
mamma's." 

At  table  the  company  fell  naturally  into  pairs— Pctiina 
and  Lechmere,  Hippolyta  and  Vassall,  Lady  de  Bohun 
and  Major  Bertie. 

"So  Orpington  Park  is  to  give  another  beauty  to  the 
county,"  Bertie  remarked  as  they  took  their  places; 
he  smiled  towards  Hippolyta  as  he  spoke. 

"All  the  girls  are  beauties  where  Major  the  Honorable 
Gerald  Bertie  goes  to  dine,"  Hippolyta  replied,  with  a 
toss  of  the  head. 

"Doubtless,"  he  retorted.  "But  among  the  Ama- 
zons, Hippolyta  alone  was  queen." 

"  For  the  Lord's  sake,  Gerald,  don't  be  mythological," 
Lady  de  Bohun  cried,  beginning  to  eat  her  soup. 

"It's  so  fatiguing  on  the  day  of  re.-st,"  Lechmere 
drawled.  _  "That's  the  worst  of  a  Saturday  to  P.Ionday 
at  Bertie's.     One's  mind  gets  no  sabbatical  repose." 

"Living  with  the  clever,"  Petrina  observed,  "is  like 
living  with  the  rich.  In  trying  to  keep  their  pace  one 
goes  beyond  one's  means." 

"I've  found  it  so  at  Bertie's,"  Lechmere  rejoined. 
'85 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"And  the  effort  to  keep  up  is  killing,  especially  on  a 
Sunday." 

What  is  there  about  a  Sunday,"  Petrina  asked, 
"  which  makes  one  feel  so  much  more  wicked  than  one 
does  on  a  week-day?" 
"And  unconventional,"  added  Lechmere. 
"It's  the  same  thing,"  said  Bertie.  "Virtue  is  only 
long-standing  convention.  Vice  is  only  its  trans- 
gression." 

"Exactly,"  Petrina  assented.     "But  the  taste  for  it 
always  seems  to  be  strongest  on  Sundays.    If  there  is 
anything  canaille  in  one's  nature — " 
"And  there  always  is,"  Bertie  declared. 
"It  is  called  forth  on  a  Sunday  evening,"  Petrina 
pursued. 
"Like  this,"  Lechmere  interposed. 
"Like    this,"   Petrina    repeated,    "as   at  no  other 
time.     During  the  week  one  is  content  to  be  decently 
dtcdletee  and  to  drink  champagne.     On  Sunday  one 
wants — " 

"To  be  indecently  dtcoUetie  and  to  drink  absinthe." 
Bertie  finished. 

"I  wasn't  going  to  say  that,"  Petrina  laughed.  "I 
was  thinking  chiefly  of  Mrs.  Bowdoin  Somersel's  beej^ 
and -cheese  receptions  on  Sunday  nights  in  Boston, 
of  which  my  husband  and  I  were  speaking  before  din^ 
ner.  Somehow  they  suit  a  Sunday  night.  One  would 
never  think  of  going  to  such  a  thing  on  a  week-night. 
One  wears  a  high  dress  and  a  hat,  and  one  meets  all 
kinds  of  actors  and  German  miisicians  and  a  sort  of 
literary  tag-rag-and-bobtail  who  seem  made  to  fall  in 
with  one's  humor  on  the  Lord's  Day.  One  eats  bread- 
and-cheese,and  drinks  beer  (and  I  hate  beer,  as  a  rule!), 
as  though  there  were  something  sanctified  in  the  diet. 
Then  one  goes  home  feeling  that  one  has  passed  an 
j86 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 


As  a  matter  of  fact,  it  is 


edifying  Sunday  evening. 

rather  low—" 

^^For  a  refined  person  that's  its  charm,"  said  Lech- 

"  Yes,  but  why?"  Petrina  insisted.  " On  a  wcck-dav 
vulganty  .s  det^staWe.  Why.  then,  on  Sunday  r'^ 
Hen™,;  ";  ^""'f-  •''"'=  >■""  '°"^h  on  one  of  the 
tiously  The  best  of  us  have  a  taste  for  something 
bad    the  sweetest  of  us  a  craving  for  .something  ac"d 

cocktail  \ou  cant  explam  it,  any  more  than  you 
can  explam  why  a  man  who  has  a  lovely  and  cultivated 
wife  should  neglect  her  for  some  vulgar-"         ""^"'"' 

fniyrXj^''^,  ^^^y  '^^  ^°*»""'  severely,  "don't 
forget  that  Ilippolyta  is  at  the  table  " 

;;  You  don't  really  see  what  I  mean-"  Petrina  began. 

"pit^  '  ^V  -P'     ^^'^y  '^^  Bohun  interrupted 

Petr ma  means  this,"  she  went  on,  with  a  compreh^ 
sive  glance  around  the  company.  "Granted  thaUWe 
IS  something  of  the  devil  in  us  all,  why  should  sj^ 
the  Lord's  Day  more  than  any  other  day  on  wWch  to 
show  .tself?  I  understand  her  perfectly  It  ,s  simply 
because  ,t  «  the  Lord's  Day.  It  is  just  like  the  Si. 
which  I  suppose  every  woman  has,  to  tempt  St.  Anthony 
It  s  because  It  «  St.  Anthony.  If  he  were  any  one  else" 
one  wouldn't  care.  I  never  see  a  bishop,  espT^klly  a 
celibate  one,  without  wanting  to—"  t^'^ny  a 

-mih^  ?°''"r  '^".^''*  ^'^'  ''™'*>"'^  ^y^  and  stopped, 
attempt  ■"  "^  ''^  •    ^'^"^  ^^^'«-     "  W-  aHl 

"Without  wanting  to  discuss  with  him  the  Apostoli- 
cal Succession.     You  thought  I  was  going  to  sayson.e- 

feg'S'v'^i.^-""'  ""^  '^''-  ^^-''  ^'^-S 

187 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"I  was  thinking  less  of  you  than  of  Hippolyta,"  he 
answered. 

"I'm  used  to  it.  Uncle  Harry,"  the  girl  whispered. 
•  "^"^'^by  J°ve  !  you've  got  some  excuse,"  cried  Ber- 
tie.    "It's  a  case  of  filia  pulchra.  even  if  it's  mater 
pulchrior." 

"She  does  look  nice,  doesn't  she?"  Lady  de  Bohun 
commented,  as  though  her  daughter  were  not  there. 

"How  delightful  it  is,"  said  Petrina,  "to  be  Hippol- 
yta's  age  and  look  as  she  does  in  a  white  mushn  frock 
that  can't  have  cost  ten  poundsl" 
^^  "And  yet,"  Lechmere  said,  softly,  in  Petrina's  ear, 
"  the  flower  in  blossom  is  more  beautiful  than  that  iri 
the  bud.  Your  frock  must  have  cost — " 
"Fifty  pounds,"  said  Petrina. 

"But  then  there  is  more  than  fifty  times  the  charm." 
"Do  you  know  what  I  should  like?"  she  said,  letting 
her  voice  fall,  and  speaking  for  him  alone.     "  I  should 
li''e  to  have  our  acquaintance  pass  out  of  the  stage  of 
giving  and  receiving  compliments  and  come  into  that 
where  one  talks  mind  to  mind." 
"That  is,  you  are  offering  me  your  friendship." 
"If  you  care  to  have  it." 
"  If  I  told  you  how  much  I  do  care — " 
"You  needn't  do  that.     That  is  a  thing  best  left  to 
be  divined." 

"  I  understand  you.  Love  has  a  golden  speech,  but 
friendship  a  golden  silence.  Very  well,  then.  We  are 
friends." 

"Good  friends,"  said  Petrina,  looking  him  in  the 
eyes.  She  was  sorry  for  him.  She  noticed  how  much 
older  he  looked  than  when  they  had  last  met.  His  dark 
hair  was  already  slightly  silvered. 

"Thank  you,"  said  Lechmere.     "One  of  these  days 
you  may  see  how  much  I  need  you." 
i88 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

'-What  are  you  two  muttering  about?"  cried  Lady 
de  Bohun,  turning  away  from  Bertie.  "  Dick,  I  am  in 
the  act  of  giving  the  devil  his  due,  and  I  want  to  com- 
plete the  operation.  I  have  just  been  telling  Gerald 
the  share  he  has  had  in  the  handsome  birthday  pres- 
ent 1  have  been  able  to  give  my  daughter.  Look  at 
that  row  of  pearls.  They  didn't  come  from  the  French 
Diamond  Company  in  the  Burlington  Arcade  They 
will  bear  inspection  by  the  expert.  They  cost  me  just 
?rJ  hundred  pounds.  If  I  hadn't  lost  that  two  hun- 
dred at  Wmkfield  Abbey-well,  we  won't  talk  about 
that.  It  s  too  sore  a  subject.  The  loss  is  poor  Hippol- 
yta  s  more  than  mine.  However,  Dick,  your  contri- 
bution was  just  fifty-eight  pounds,  ten  shillings.  I've 
kept  an  accurate  account  ever  since  I  first  began  to 
save  my  poor  winnings  for  this  happy  day." 

"I  am  sure  that  I  never  spent  fifty-eight  pound  ten 
so  well  in  my  life  before,"  Lechmere  murmured,  look- 
ing across  the  table  at  Hippoljta. 

The  girl  sat  confused  and  speechless,  using  all  her 
self-control  to  resist  the  impulse  to  tear  the  thing  from 
her  neck  and  fling  it  from  her. 

"Be  brave,"  Vassall  whispered,  under  cover  of  the 
conversation.     "Your  mother  doesn't  understand." 

"  I  know  "  she  whispered  in  return,  biting  her  lips 
to  keep  back  the  tears.  "  But  you  can  see  how  I  have 
learned  my  lessons  about  life." 

"We  will  have  the  coffee  in  the  card-room,"  said 
Lady  de  Bohun,  at  the  end  of  dinner.     "  I  am  sure  you 
men  would  rather  come  with  us  there  than  be  left  to- 
gether here." 
"It  would  be  a  privilege,"  said  Bertie. 
"And  what  shall  we  play?"  Lady  de  Bohun  asked, 
with  a  glance  around.     "We're  too  many  for  bridge." 
Vassall  looked  across  the  table  at  his  wife. 
189 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

s  JifiSnSy"^'  "'^  "°*  '"^^  *'^"'«*'''  '^"""y'"  ^'^  ^''J- 

n..'Tr  "^  ™PP°lyte  and  you,"  Petrina  interposed, 

so  that  :t  can  be  bndge." 

V««  f  ^  ^^^t  !'V^  '^'•^  "°^  '^^^  ^^  "y^^  from  his. 
Vassall  knew  that  her  words  implied  a  challenge  He 
curbed  hjs  impulse  to  speak,  and  rose  with  the  rest 

f^w;!:!.  T  ^°  °",*  ?"  ^•'^  *^"'^"'"  HiPP"'yte  murmured, 
Pete.  fnn""fi'K  "S^.^hile  Lady  de  Bohun  and 
Petnna,  followed  by  Bertie  and  Lechmere,  swept  out 
of  the  room.     "  I  don't  want  any  coffee  " 

"Nor  I,"  said  Vassall.    "Let  us  go  out  and  listen 
for  a  nightingale." 

*i.'^*'l.'^^^:[°°'"  ^*  Orpington  Park  was  an  after- 
tiiought  on  the  part  of  the  late  Sir  Tristram  de  Bohun 
bir  Humphrey  s  father.  It  was  a  httle  pavilion  at  the 
extreme  eastern  end  of  the  mansion.  It  had  windows 
on  a^l  sides  and  was  reached  through  the  conservatory. 
The  mght  was  hot,  and  the  windows  were  open.  As 
Vassall  and  Hippolyta  paced  the  terrace  they  could 
see  the  light  streaming  outward  and  hear  the  sounds 
of  laughter.  They  talked  of  the  possibility  of  the 
girls  going  to  America  with  her  uncle  and  spending 
the  winter  with'her  grandmother  in  Old  Cambridge 

As  they  walked  up  and  down  they  instinctively 
turned  on  their  steps  before  they  reached  the  pavil- 
ion. Growing  more  interested  in  the  idea  of  the  visit 
they  c^sed  to  note  the  exact  direction  they  were  tak- 
ing. Sudoenly  they  found  themselves  beneath  the 
open  windows  of  the  card -room,  with  the  view  of 
thoae  withm.  The  four  were  seated  at  a  table  on 
which  were  cards  rnd  counters.  They  were  not  play- 
ing The  men  had  drinks  before  them.  Lady  de 
ttohun  and  Petnna  were  smoking  cigarettes.  Hip- 
190 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 
dS'^t^h^  accustomed  to  the  sight  that  she  won- 

were  stiU  a  child  ^    "'  *^  *^°"Sh  she 


CHAPTER  VI 


"Good -NIGHT,"  said  Petrina,  hurrying  into  the 
boudoir  which  separated  her  room  from  her  husband's. 
"  I'm  longing  for  my  bed.  Tobacco  always  makes  me 
sleepy." 

Vassall  looked  up  from  his  book.  He  was  reading 
beside  a  small  table  on  which  a  lamp  was  burning. 
Petrina  was  radiant,  her  color  heightened,  her  eyes 
sparkling.  The  evening  had  excited  her.  Vassall's 
absence  from  the  card-room  had  taken  a  restraint  from 
the  talk,  which  had  not  gone  beyond  the  limits  of  clever 
innuendo,  and  yet  had  been  amusing.  While  glad  that 
her  husband  had  not  been  there,  she  was  concious  of  a 
certain  irritation  at  his  inability  to  hold  his  own  among 
those  whom  she  called  "people  of  the  world." 

As  she  looked  at  him  now  in  his  careless  dress  of  the 
late  evening  —  his  hair  disordered,  his  shirt -bosom 
rumpl'-d,  and  his  cravat  awry — she  could  not  help  com- 
paring .lis  negligence  with  the  starched  correctness  of 
the  men  who  had  just  gone  back  to  Keston  Castle. 
Bertie  was  metropolitan ;  Lechmere,  cosmopoUtan ;  Vas- 
sall, undeniably  provincial. 

"Don't  go  yet,"  he  said,  putting  aside  his  book;  "I 
want  to  talk  to  you.     Sit  down  a  minute. " 

"For  mercy's  sake,  Harry,  put  your  cravat  straight," 
she  said  with  a  yawn,  sinking,  as  she  spoke,  into  an 
arm-chair.  "  I  hope  you're  not  going  to  be  the  sort  of 
man  who  sits  with  his  feet  on  the  table  because  there 
is  no  one  present  but  his  wife." 
192 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

cravat!'  '''"^'''  "°" ' "  '^^  ^^''J'  '"-kly,  pu„ing  ,t  his 
lik?aVorhr"a„-""  ^°"  ^''"'•^  -'^^  have  a  valet, 
tio;\'"B2tofai°'?  ^^'^*-  ^"^  ^^^  "-  °f  »y  P03^- 
^eT^^din"';"^"^'  "^  y°"  "«^^'  g«t  °"t  of  that 

Yes,  Harry?    In  future—?" 
beln  t'iS"  °"  '°  ''  ""^  "•'^'^y  °^  "  than  ^O"  have 

thf  wirf  her't  ''"  ^^"  "^"^««  -hite  as 
herdTSs  """  ^^^'"'*  *h«  blackness  of 

mother."  ^  ^""^  "°''=«1  "   in   your 

"We  will  leave  my  mother  out  d  tu^  j- 

The  question  is  not  of\er  duty.Zt  o  y"'^"""" 

WUh  a  great  eifort  she  regafned  her^ommand 

193 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"  If  you  will  excuse  me  I  will  go  now,"  she  said,  rising. 
"I  don't  want  you  to  say  what  you  will  be  sorry  for." 

"Sit  down,  Petrina,"  he  ordered,  sternly,  not  moving 
from  his  own  seat. 

She  obeyed  him, 

"  If  you  insist  on  speaking,  of  course  I  must  hear  you," 
she  said,  with  constraint.  "  But  I  ask  you  to  remember 
that  I  am  not  a  forgiving  person.  I  am  not  accustomed 
to  insult." 

"Look  here,  Petrina,  my  darling,"  he  began,  in  an- 
other tone,  leaning  forward  and  attempting  to  take 
her  hand. 

"By-the-by,  Harry,"  she  interrupted,  skilfully  moving 
her  hand  beyond  his  reach,  "  while  I  think  of  it,  let  me 
ask  you  not  to  treat  me  to  so  many  e:.  bearing  epithets. 
They  are  awfully  bourgeois.  Among  people  of  our  world 
they  are  as  out  of  date  as  snuff.  Now,  will  you  go  on, 
please?" 

She  leaned  back  in  her  chair,  and  slowly  waved  her 
large  black  fan. 

"  What  I  want  to  say  is  this.  You  and  I  are  simple 
New  England  people,  with  simple  New  England  ways." 

"Granted,"  she  admitted,  languidly.  "But  there  is 
maniire  et  maniire  of  being  simple,  just  is  one  man's 
New  England  may  not  be  another's." 

"  We  have  certain,  conventions  and  certain  principles 
and  certain  prejudices — " 

"  A  qui  le  dites-vous?"  she  sighed. 

"And  I  cannot  think  it  right  for  either  you  or  me — " 

"  Suppose  you  were  to  follow  your  ideas  of  right  and 
leave  me  to  follow  mine?  Wouldn't  that  be  Uberty  of 
conscience?" 

"  A  msm  can  hardly  Uve  like  that  with  his  wife.  He 
is  responp'ble — " 

"Whai  a  dangerous  word." 
194 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
^^'•Responsible  for  her  actions  as  the  guardian  of  his 

"Oh,  la,  lal" 

"  And  he  i.  bound  to  see  that  she  conducts  herself  in  = 
manner  consistent  with  his  dignity  and  herrn  " 

of  iitsT:s:.:n"'''kf''^Tr-  "^^"'"■"'^ « ">- 

very  thing."  Nrh^:;  idctTI'''"''  '""  ^^"^'"^  °^  *hat 

mine  "Ac    i .  "'?  ^''^'  y°"  should  attend  to 

iXf  his^sSSraTnt"  "^  '^^'""^^^  '^^'^'^  ^^^^  ^^^ 

affectLS^:o,:rporr7''''?„'j^?  'r?'^«''  -'h  - 

Mr.  Lechn^ere  is'rhTgoodllL^l-'?^"^  ^''"^  ^'^P- 

to  respect  "  """"'  "''^"^'^  ^'^  «'-  brought  up 

"We?"  she  questioned,  with  a  ner^-ous  laueh 
brougSSto°rrr;^'^^^^^''^  '^  ^  "^y  ^^^  are 
thlt^^^r^SrfS-iS^-J-     ^--"''^^^'^^ 

yo^^^SoSraCltfnc-i:-  --^  -^-     ^' 
Don^  mock  at  what  I  say,  Petrinal" 

woris  dfs"e"'eVarnSrr  ''  ?"°"^'^  ^^  '^  y°- 
haven't  left  you  aid  go„e  ifb^  Z/M"*  '*""*  ' 
in  my  place—"  '^"^^  °ther  women 

19S 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

"Would  not  have  given  nie  the  ground  of  complaint 
I  have  against  you.  Most  other  women  in  your  place 
would  not  have  spent  Sunday  evening  in  smoking  and 
playing  cards." 

"Really  nice  women  would,  as  Emmy  might  say. 
You  see,  Harry,  you  don't  know  your  world.  You  are 
so  narrow  and  illiberal  and  spiritually  puffed-up  that 
you  don't  realize  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  progress. 
You're  so  Hebraic  that  you're  still  back  in  the  times  of 
Abraham  and  Sarah.  Of  course,  I  knew  that  when  I 
married  you,  but  I  didn't  think  you  were  going  to 
prove — " 

"  Such  a  tyrant?"  he  said,  with  a  forced  smile  and 
with  a  new  effort  to  turn  the  current  of  the  conversation 
from  one  of  bitterness  into  that  of  banter. 

"Oh,  no.  Not  at  all.  I  don't  say  that  you  are  a  ty- 
rant.   A  tjrrant  must  be  strong. " 

"Only  a  just  and  constitutional  king,  then?"    He 
rose,  and,  standing  above  her,  tried  agnin  to  take  her 
hand. 
"I  should  hardly  say  that." 
"What,  then?    What  am  I?" 

"Well,  nothing  in  particular.     In  marr3nng  you  I 
gave  you  privileges,  but  I  never  meant  to  confer  rights. 
Sit  down,  Harry,  please.    Let  me  give  you  my  point  of 
view." 
"  Haven't  we  talked  enough  for  to-night?" 
He  tried  to  speak  good-naturedly. 
"  Not  quite,  for  I  want  to  say  a  word  on  my  side.     I 
have  borne  youi-  conversation  with  good  temper,  be- 
cause I  see  that  I  have  brought  you  into  a  society 
where  you  have  still  much  to  learn.     You  are  a  less 
inteUig.  it  pupil  than  I  expected  you  to  be,  but  I  can 
be  patient." 
"  Then  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  can,"  he  cried,  with  renewed 
196 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Ihis  IS  no  question  of  what  you  find—" 

"'s  a  society  which  puts  evil  for  ffonrf  ..nJ  j    i 

"If  that  is  your  opinion  of  modem  society-" 
in^  oT  "^  ^P^^king  of  modern  society.     I  am  st«ak 

And  I." 

Emmy-"  ^^^  ^^''^'^  ^"<=*»  women  as 

"And  I." 
"Affect—" 

is  ra'S:' n^owr^^  *:i  S"-  °^  ^^  --<!  ^-nch 
sular;  in  an  American  "  ant  ?^rK ttir''  "^  '": 
excuse  the  word-a  little  undeTbr^  "'  ''"'"-^°"  »"«* 

FrenT;TuLThVpXfSle"Xlv1,r^^\^'^ 

;;  Don't  hesitate  to  include  me  among  them  " 
I  do  include  you,     I  should  not  have  ventured  to 
197 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

name  these  authors  in  your  presence  had  I  not  seen 
their  productions  lying  on  your  table." 
"You  have  read  them,  of  course?" 
"Until  they  made  me  rather  sick." 
""".'ou  can  spare  me  your  physical  symptoms." 
"  You  find  that  offensive  because  I  speak  in  English. 
That  is  precisely  the  point  I  am  coming  to.     You  cannot 
graft  GalUc  freedom  of  expression  upon  our  Anglo- 
Saxon  instinct  for  restraint.    It  is  the  point  of  which 
Emmy  and  her  friends  are  ignorant.      There  are  many 
things  possible  to  say  with  decency  in  French  which 
in   English   become  gross.     There  are  many  things 
which  a  Frenchwoman  can  talk  of  with  perfect  pro- 
priety, but  which  on  the  lips  of  an  English  or  American 
woman  are  little  short  of  foul." 
"You  seem  to  be  wonderfully  versed  in  the  subject." 
"I  am.     One  has  to  be.     The  deterioration  of  our 
women,  English  and  American  aUke,  obliges  us  men 
to  seek  the  cause." 
"  And  you  find  it  in — ?" 

"God  be  thanked,  in  ignorance  rather  than  in  evil." 
"You  are  fond  of  that  word  ignorance." 
"Not  fond,  but  only  forced  to  use  it.     The  women  of 
the  world  to  which  you  say  you  belong  have  just  the 
Httle  knowledge  which  is  dangerous.    I  take  Emmy 
as  an  illustration — " 
"Why  not  take  me?" 

"I  prefer  Emmy.  She  feed.s  her  mind  on  the  worst 
of  French  light  reading,  and  fancies  that  it  is  French 
literature.  She  fills  her  head  with  tales  of  marital  in- 
fidelity, and  calls  it  French  morality.  She  talks  fluent- 
ly of  the  cocu  and  the  cocotte,  and  thinks  she  is  spealcing 
of  French  society.  She  is  ignorant  of  the  fact  that 
there  is  a  great  and  noble  France  of  which  she  will  not 
read  a  word  in  the  pages  of  Gyp  or  Guy  de  Maupassan*  " 
198 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"When  you  say  Emmy,  of  course  you  mean  me     I 
want  you  to  make  that  point  clear." 

"I  mean  a  large  number  of  the  young  American  and 
English  women  of  the  upper  classes  of  the  present  day 
They  try  to  be  chic,  but  only  cease  to  be  charming. 
ITiey  try  to  be  original,  but  only  become  coarse  Thev 
try  to  be  progressive,  but  only  succeed  in  going  back 
to  the  grossness  of  Tristram  Shandy  and  Tom  Jones. 
There,  Vassall  broke  off  with  a  laugh.  "You  thought 
you  were  going  to  escape  a  Sunday  sermon,  but  it  has 
overtaken  you  even  at  the  eleventh  hour." 

"And  I've  been  the  text,"  said  Petrina,  looking  down 
ruduUy  at  her  hands,  and  then  glancing  up  at  him 
with  an  air  of  penitence.  ' 

He  took  her  hand  again,  and  this  time  it  was  not  with- 
drawn. So  the  threatened  storm  passed  by,  and  a  litUe 
later  they  said  good-night. 

But  at  the  door  of  her  own  room  Petrina  turned. 
Vassall  stood  looking  after  her.    She  was  moved  by  a 
sudden  impulse  which  came  she  knew  not  whence 
The  little  rift  within  the  lute,' "  she  quoted 
"Oh,  Petrina,  don't  say  it,"  he  cried,  taking  a  step 
..^^'  .^"^  '•^"'^^  outstretched  as  if  in  pleading. 
Thehttlenftwithinthelute,"'sherepeated,deliber- 
ately,  but  with  her  sphinx-Uke  smile,  "'which  by-and- 
by  may  make  the  music  mute. ' " 
Then  she  closed  the  door  behind  her. 


CHAPTER  VII 

A  MILESTONE  is  reached  in  married  life  when  hus- 
band  and  wife  recognize  the  limitations  to  what  each 
can  expect  from  the  other.  When  Vassall  and  Petrina 
met  on  Monday  morning  both  were  aware  of  some- 
thing more  precise  in  their  relations.  It  was  as  if  that 
around  which  there  had  been  a  golden  aureole  had  be- 
come defined  by  the  daylight.  With  the  first  moment 
face  to  face  ther.^  was  a  consciousness  that  some  of 
their  romance  was  gone.  In  their  mutual  regard  there 
was  not  less  love,  but  there  was  less  illusion.  They 
had  parted  at  night  with  the  kiss  of  reconciliation, 
but  they  met  in  the  morning  in  a  spirit  of  silent 
stnfe.  Petrina  was  too  positive  to  admit  his  claim  to 
be  master;  Vassall  too  certain  that  be  was  right  to  be 
able  to  concede. 

So,  with  their  return  to  London,  a  life  of  drawing 
apart  began.  She  was  determined  to  impose  her  tastes 
he  to  carry  out  his  principles.  IVhen  he  yielded  to  her' 
it  was  without  willingness.  When  she  deferred  to  him' 
it  was  without  grace.  ' 

Soon  they  passed  another  milestone.  It  was  when 
they  found  that  there  was  no  satisfaction  in  makinK 
concessions  to  each  other.  Then  Petrina  began  to  eo 
her  way  Vassall  his.  They  spent  their  time  more 
pleasantly,  but  each  was  moved  by  some  resentment 
towards  the  other  because  they  were  apart. 

"It  will  be  different,"  VassaU  said  to  himself,  "  when 
we   return   to  Boston.     There  our  life  will  be  spent 
200 


.V 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
Ometly,  and  she  will  lo .«,  the  ta.te  for  all  this  noise  and 

beiroursXL'^reLt^J"^:  :t"-  r.-^'  "and 
another  point  of  view  He  will  a  T  i*"""^'  ^'■°"' 
he  thinks  vani°y  is  dutvanHK"']''''u'l"?  ">"*  ^^at 
volity  is  life  "  ^'  ""''  "^'  *'^'  he  calls  fri- 

I  wish  you  would  take  him  in  hand.  Duchess  " 
But  I    1  Simply  dying  to." 

there"  '""  '''''*  «°  ""^^''^^  "  ^e  thought  you'd  be 

Tell  him  he'llZTme  in  thi  n,  ^*  **  '^^'=  P^^'^^'y^ 
ing-room,  whefetyal!^',  ^r/^ ^  l^il  ^„T 
an  excuse  for  sitUng  in  there  alonp  V^  vl  ^^^^ 
sudden  palpitation  of  the  heart  I  H„h  '^^  ^  '^^^  ^ 
t.m«  e^peciauy  when  I'^^ettn  rLtht ''    ^  ""•- 

himll^tw'^irat^wilf""'  ""'  "  ^"^*»""^  -«  — 

Ji^rr'cai^;£AatLt^''r'^^  ^ 

nex.  Vassall  and  PeW^f  were  cSetl  :^[^  S  *^TT  '"• 

^^:5ti^s^^r'iir-i-ss 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

streamers  of  shaded  reds,  fastened  at  her  breast.     She 
was  lying  on  a  sofa  in  a  little  sitting-room. 

"  I've  done  it,"  she  gasped,  as  Petrina  entered.  "  I've 
taken  the  step." 

"  What  step,  dear?"  Petrina  asked,  as  she  kissed  her 
sister-in-law. 

"  The  divorce.  I've  told  Sir  Charles  Freeman  to  go 
on  with  it.  They  were  to  serve  something  on  Hum- 
phroy  this  morning,  poor  fellow.  I  don't  know  what 
it  is,  but  they  said  they'd  serve  it.' 

Petrina  looked  grave,  and  sat  down  on  the  edge  of 
the  sofa,  holding  the  while  Emilia's  hand. 
"Does  Hippolyta  know?" 

"Nothing  yet.     She  mustn't  be  dcld  till  I  get  my 
decree  nisi,  whatever  that  is.     She's  nere  in  town  with 
her  grandmother  in  Cromwell  Road.'- 
"  And  Tristram?" 

"Safe  at  Dr.  Babbington's.     He  needn't  know  for  a 
long  time— not  until  Gerald  and  I—" 
"Then  you  arc  sure — ?" 

"Oh  yes.     That's  all  right.     I  know  he  means  it." 
"And  you?" 

"  I  haven't  committed  myself.     As  things  are,  he  has 
bound  himself  and — " 
"  Left  you  free?" 

"Of  course,  Petrina  dear,  my  position  is  extreme- 
ly delicate.  I  couldn't  become  engaged  to  one  man 
as  long  as  I  am  married  to  another?  Now,  could 
I?  Reginalda  de  la  Pole  did  it,  and  I  know  it's 
common  in  America:  but  one  has  to  draw  the  line 
at  something,  and  I  do  it  there.  He's  given  me 
this,"  she  added,  drawii.v  from  the  bosom  of  her 
dress  a  ring  fastened  on  a  long  gold  chain.  "I 
told  him  I  couldn't  wear  it,  but  that  I'd  just  keep  it 
here." 

202 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 


That  must  mean 


"But  you've  accepted  it  from  him. 
tnat  you — 

"Oh,  I  suppose  I'm  coming  to  it   dear     7t'<=  =,  n-^j 

f^   w/r''  ^V""  g«"inglsed  io  the  id  1      ItW 

It  wJ   be  good  for  Tristram  to  have  a  father." 
tJut  there  s  Humphrey." 
"I  mean  a  real  father,  dear— a  real   np(»,r,=i  t  *u>l. 
not  one  who'.s  made  himself  talk:d  Ti Xh^f  tte 
Lucy  FUzalans  and  Hetty  Viennes  in  London  "  ' 

tint  you  told  me  yourself  that  Major  Bertie  had 
compromised  ..  lot  of  people."  ° 

"My  head  aches,  dear      Don'Mpt  ,.=  (^ii     u     ^ 
dreadfully  deep  th/ngs  this  morn  ig"  S^LTe,'"^; 

''Anything,  dear  Emilia." 
"Yes;   I  knew  you   would 
mother;   you  see  I've  got   to 

But,  considering  how  thev  feel  T  flr.r.'*  c„  u 
going  to  reconcile  Them  to  if  "  '" ''°"'  y°"  ^" 

"  Nor  I,  quite.   But  there's  no  one  who  can  manage  .* 

enoue-h  to  hpar      tu„  >         ^7'"."°- J"siasiii  hadn  t 
their^deas      tL,^    iff  '°   'ernhly  behindhand   in 
ev:n  ttrpeolle^^e  ditc^^f '"^'^  ^^     ^"^^ 
Eighth,  an^d    fots  of  i^Tthat  JtmZu7j  ^I'l 
had  an  encyclop^ia.     Even  Milton  wrote  Svor  of  it 
But  I  want  you  to  go  back  and  tell  him     'Tel  Wm  hn. 
have  struggled  against  it,  until  mrwrlngs  ™  out 
to  Heaven  for  redress.     Don't  prejudice  liI'  ^ns 
203 


Well,  it's  Harry  and 
consider  them  to  some 


i  !l 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

Humphrey,  though.  I  know  you  won't  do  that  But 
just  m^e  him  feel  that  I've  suffered  right  up  to  the 
verge  of  endurance;  and  that  Humphrey  has  been  not 
so  much  wicked  as  weak.  Make  it  all  as  moral  as  you 
can,  because  that's  the  joint  in  their  hames,s-moralitv 
IS.  1  m  sure  you'll  know  how  to  do  it,  dear-  you've 
so  much  tact.  Quote  the  nineteenth  chapter  of  St 
Matthew  at  them.  You  can  give  it  a  twist  that  will 
make  It  just  suit  my  case.  Don't  say  anything  r.bout 
Gerald-at  least  not  yet.  We  must  feed  them  with 
milk,  you  know,  and  not  with  meat.  That's  in  the 
Bib  e,  too  I  feel  sure,  dear  Petrina,  that  I  can  leave 
It  all  safely  in  your  hands." 

"  It  goes  without  saying,  Emmy,  that  I  will  do  every- 
thing in  my  power.    To  whom  should  you  turn  at  such  a 

•■'".fJ^J^*^  *'*^"  *"  "^^    I'v"!  if  I  didn't  approve-" 
Which  you  do,  don't  you?" 

"I  can't  be  wholly  sure  of  that;  but  even  if  I  didn't 
1  should  stand  by  you." 

"You're  such  a  treasure  to  me,"  Lady  de  Bohun  said, 
tenderly  pressing  Petrina 's  hand.  "I  shall  never  for- 
get your  kindness;  and  if  ever  you  want  to  do  any- 
thing like  this,  you  will  be  able  to  count  on  my  help 
as  I  have  on  yours.  It's  true  that  it's  early  yet  in  your 
married  life,  and  Harry  is  a  saint;  but  if  it  should 
happen — 

The  baffling  smile  was  on  Petrina's  Ups  as  she  in- 
terrupted her  sister-in-law  and  rose  from  the  border  of 
the  couch. 

"  I  ought  to  go  back  to  the  hotel  now,"  she  said  ■  "  then 
I  can  get  it  over  by  telling  Harry  at  luncheon. "    ' 


CHAPTER  VIII 

thJ^nh^''*^"^'^  ^"'^"'^'  ^^^^^  himself  opened   ud 
2  table       "'  '"°"  '    *^^  "^"-  had  left  tlS  Ine 

engagement?"  ''""•     "^^^  y°"  «"y  °ther 

;;None  that  I  can't  put  off.     So  he  knows?" 
by  stE?^     "^  '^"^^"'^  -"e  as  if  he  were  taken 

"' Nnf'°"'''  ^^'^^  ^-     ^"t  y°"'  Harry?" 
Not   more   than   Humphrey,   I   suppose     WUh   = 

-Ji^^-S'str  »"r  '^'"  "■"'«■■  ^■► 

w.  bS  Sw™,' ■•'"''  "«  '»  S~»  "-  »U«  «nc 
»  taTv"r„° "  '  "■"  "  "««t  by  =pm.n„  ,.11,. 

Petrina  looked  at  him  keenly 
poinXS."^^"  ^'^^^  -"■  °-  carriage  has  disaj. 
205 


Let   Not  Man   Put   Asunder 

"  The  very  question  is  an  injury,"  he  replied,  with  a 
laugh.  "  But  I  suppose  it  is  only  the  married  who  know 
how  serious  a  thing  marriage  is.  No  one  can  realize 
beforehand  the  meaning  of  a  permanent  community  of 
life." 

"Of  course  not,  if  you  look  at  it  in  that  light.  But 
you  know  it  isn't  modern.  To  tis  marriage  is  a  tem- 
|)orary  co-operation  rather  than  a  permanent  commu- 
nity. I  could  never  have  married  if  I  thought  other- 
wise, not  any  more  than  I  could  have  taken  the  lifelong 
vows  of  a  nun." 

Petrina  spoke  deliberately,  and  was  surprised  that 
Vassall  did  not  resent  her  speech. 

"  I  used  to  think  that  there  ought  to  be  no  loop-hole 
Now—" 

"Now,"  Petrina  laughed,  "you  begin  to  see  that  the 
day  may  come  when  you  will  be  glad  enough  to  find 
one." 

"  I  wish  you  wouldn't  give  my  words  so  personal  an 
application." 

"Women  can  never  argue  in  the  abstract,  Harry. 
They  must  be  personal,  or  they  can't  enjoy  the  talk. 
But  I  am  glad  that  you  admit  that  marriage  isn't  neces- 
sarily binding." 

"I  doii't  admit  anything.  I  say  only  that  lately  I 
have  reviewed  my  own  ideas,  and  I  am  not  quite  so 
sure  as  I  used  to  be.     That's  all." 

"I've  been  looking  up  the  nineteenth  chapter  of  St. 
Matthew.  We  are  told  there  that  there  was  a  time  when 
even  Moses  suffered  a  man  to  give  his  wife  a  writing  of 
divorcement." 

"But  it  was  only  for  the  hardness  of  men's  hearts." 
"Hearts  are  always  hard,   Harry.     They  are  cer- 
tainly not  softer  now  than  they  were  in  the  days  of 
Sinai.     But  my  point  is  this,  that,  even  accepting  the 
206 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"But  the  Church  has  decreed-" 

"And  rhfn '!i^' r'^?«"^'^t«' before  the  Church  " 
And  the  needs  of  civilized  society  demand-" 

,,  That,  for  the  sake  of  the  family-"    ' 
can^^:SteSd'i^^^,£^-;''";^e  family 

or  termLtLntasi^^stS  "  n  ^  ^l"^'*  ^^^"^« 
ures  it  is  a  very  vaguTcStion  ^^.^hnstian  Script- 
needs  of  different  Sa«onsT'  ^"''7\"^«  ^th  the 
what  was  pernS  t!d  for  t^  i,  ^  =°"tend  therefore,  that 
intheUme^fMos1sou^h?nnM ff  °^  '"^"'^  hearts 
hardness  of  mS  heS'tSy""  "" '°  "^^  "'"^' 

attUu3e"5,^tt^,;:'i,i*^t''\^  °"  ^^^  *"  ™^  - 
Ph'cy  de  Sfhun's XmbeT'Tater'in 'i^^'^rf  *  ^'^  ""- 

"Well    Humphrev  "  ^hl  .  -j         ^^^  afternoon, 
"this  is  a  gr^t  ,^Z'.  £Vth'  ^-   *'  *°°k  hands, 
can  do-"  '  ^'  ^"*  '^  "*"^  's  anything  fhat  we 

Jh^baronet  smiled,  and  ordered  his  man  to  bring  in 

n:en"ts%'i'£:Sl^  *^^c:strf  ^  ^-jf  ™- 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 


Petrina.  "How  they  learn  such  things  the  Lord  only 
knows." 

"We  haven't  seen  anything,"  Vassall  said,  wonder- 
ing; "nor  heard  anything." 

"No,  I  suppose  not,"  Sir  Humphrey  went  on,  "but 
no  doubt  you  soon  will.  It's  in  a  penny  rag  called 
English  Society.  Yes,  that  blue -covered  thing,"  he 
added,  as  he  saw  Petrina's  glance  fall  upon  it.  "  The 
Duchess  of  Ambleside  sent  it  to  me  with  a  note  this 
morning." 

"  Well,  I  never!"  Petrina  exclaimed,  as  she  looked  at  a 
paragraph  marked  in  red  pencil.  " '  We  understand,'  " 
she  read  aloud,  "'that  another  social  sensation  is 
promised  in  the  action  for  divorce  to  be  brought  by 
the  wife  of  a  well-known  baronet,  whose  country  seat 
is  not  a  thousand  miles  from  Orpington,  in  Kent.  The 
lady  in  question  is  one  of  the  prettiest  and  wittiest  of 
the  American  women  who  gave  an  exotic  flavor  to 
London  life,  while  the  co-respondent  is  said  to  be  a 
charming  young  actress  at  the  Charing  Cross  Theatre. 
Her  name  resembles  that  of  one  of  the  great  capitals 
of  Europe.' " 

"Disgusting!"  commented  Sir  Humphrey.  "The 
way  one's  private  affairs  get  into  the  newspapers—" 

Vassall  glanced  for  himself  at  the  paragraph  and 
said  nothing. 

"That  kind  of  thing  blows  over,"  said  Petrina.  "If, 
when  everything  is  settled,  you  were  to  go  abroad  for 
a  month  or  two — " 

"I  shall  go  to  America,"  Sir  Humphrey  explained, 
as  he  sipped  his  tea.  "  That  will  give  Emmy  a  chance 
to  get  used  to  the  new  conditions;  and  when  I  come 
back  I  shall  be  able  to  fall  more  easily  into  them, 
too." 

"Perhaps  you  could  come  with  us,"  Petnna  sug- 
208 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

Stiber^'  '^''  °"  *•*'  '^"^'^^  ^'  ^'''  ""^^  ^ 
f-ereThiy?"°"'''  ^°"  "'"  '-^^  ^"^  *°  ""^  "^^^^  ^  K«t 

f?      1,  *u      .    ^^^-      ^  *"  ^"""^  y°"'d  «iJoy  it,  even 
though  there's  no  sport." 

"Thanks,"    repHed    Sir    Humphrey,    and    Petrina 

thought  she  detected  an  embarrassment  in  Ws  a^ 

But  I  ve  already  promised  the  Tyrells  to  spend  Sen. 

tember  with  them  at  Lenox."  ^^        ^^ 

"You'll  Uke  that,"  Petrina  remarked,  not  taking  her 
eyes  from  h.s  "And,  by-the-way,  I  ^ee  yoThLve  a 
new  picture  of  Gentian."  y"u  nave  a 

ihl^^'i'^^  ^j'  ^°'"^  *°  *^  mantel-piece  and  takine 
the  photograph  down.     "  It's  good,  isn^  it?" 
Petnna  glanced  significantly  at  Vassall 
1  hey  were  sUlI  commenUng  on  Miss  TyreH's  por- 
t^it^and  pose  when  Sir  Humphrey's  ma^cameTn 

he^Itr u?r'"  '^ '"'' '"'"  •'^  -'<^-  "S'^-"  I  -k 

"NoTS--*^^^"  "**'^^^«'  Sir  Humphrey,  reddemng. 

"Yes,  sir.     I  told  'er  you  was  engaged— very  ner- 
tic'lar  engaged,  I  said."  very  per- 

"Well,  then?" 

call  for' W^  t"'^  ''^"'  '•"■■    ^^''y  Constance  is  to 
'-r^u  ll^  "'•*,''^  carriage  in  'alf  an  hour." 

Uh,  then,  it  s  not  Miss—?" 
"No,  sir,"  the  man  cried,  with  horrified  emphasis 
I   ope,  sir,  you  know  as  I'd  'a'  had  more  tack  than 
to  announce  before  company  any  one  who-" 
frJely""*    '^"S'^^"     ^ir    Humphrey   breathed    more 
°  209 


Let  Not  Man   Put   Asunder 

"Show  Miss  de  Bohun  up,"  he  ordered. 

"Well,  Polly," he  cried,  as  Hippolyta  entered.  "This 
is  a  pleasant  surprise. " 

The  girl  looked  bewildered  as  she  saw  Vassall  and 
Petrina. 

"I  thought  you  were  alone,"  she  began.  "Other- 
wise I  shouldn't  have  come." 

"But  your  uncle  and  aunt,  Polly,  scarcely  count." 

"No,  no,"  she  stammered,  confusedly.  She  stood  in 
the  middle  of  the  room  and  looked  helplessly  from  one 
to  the  other. 

"Why,  what's  the  matter?"  Sir  Humphrey  inquired, 
anxiously.     "Are  you  ill?" 

"  No,  no,"  she  repeated.     "  Not  ill— only— " 

"Only  what,  dear?"  Petrina  asked,  rising  and  com- 
ing forward.     "Can  I  help  you?" 

"No,  no,"  Hippolyta  murmured  again,  as  though  un- 
conscious of  what  she  said. 

"  Shall  we  go  away?"  Petrina  questioned.  "  Would 
you  like  to  see  your  father  without  your  Uncle  Harry 
and  me?" 

"No;  it  doesn't  matter — now,"  she  answered,  still 
speaking  dreamily.  "I  see,"  she  added,  turning  tow- 
ards Vassall,  who  sat  with  the  blue<overed  copy  of 
the  cheap  social  journal  in  his  hand,  "I  see  you've 
got  one,  too." 

"What  does  this  mean,  Hippolyta?"  Sir  Humphrey 
cried,  sternly,  beginning  to  take  alarm. 

"  Papa,  Tristram  sent  me  this,"  she  burst  out,  drawing 
a  second  blue-covered  paper  from  her  pocket. 

"This?  This?"  he  blustered.  " What  do  vou  mean 
by  this?" 

"  x'hati"  she  said,  promptly,  pointing  to  the  copy  in 
Vassall's  hand.  "  You  know  what  it  is.  You've  been 
reading  it.     You've  been  talking  about  it." 

210 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asund 


cr 


"My  dear  • 


ing  tone.    ^'''  ""'"P*»''^y  ^B^"'  >"  a  reason- 

"Is  it  true?"  she  demanded 

that-'?"  ""•     ^'  ^^'^  '"^*  °^  ■'  true?    Is  it  true 

w„'rH^^  dear  Httle  girl."  Vassall  broke  in,  coming  for- 
ward and  taking  her  hand.     "  You  can  trust  me,^can't 

voke ''° '  inwTl^"''"  uT""-"  ^^'  ^'^P''«''  i"  ^  hard 
u^     ,,"*'','  ^"""^  whether  or  not  this  is  tru^" 

sible  ii^i,  w"±"7'"  y««««». ""tinned,  "how  impos- 
sible it  IS  for  people  m  the  position  of  your  father  and 

motherto  keep  their  namesoutofthepag'i.softrpTessr 
Yes  I  am  aware  of  that.     I've  often  seen  their  names 
there  before,  but  not  like  this.     Is  it  true?" 

Papers  like  this  live  by  lies,  dear,"  Petrina  saiH 
taking  the  girl's  other  hand  i-etnna  said. 

She  freed  herself  impatiently. 

"Then  is  this  a  lie?"  she  insisted.     "You  needn't 
explaui  to  me  if  it  isn't  true.     I  am  ready  to  bdieve 

WHct  IS  the  use  of  all  this  mystery?" 
as'Sr'ThTll!  '•'i  '^"'^JT  '^""^  ^y  ^"•^h  a  sheet 
^h  Sse^eS.""  '"■'  '"""'^-     "'  ^•^^"  P""- 

it  to  br'"'i  '"'"•  ^*?'!."'  P^P^-     ^  ''°y  *t  his  school  gave 
it  to  him  and  pointed  out  the  paragraph  " 

Its  perfectly  indecent  that  boys  of  that  age-" 
air  Humphrey  began  again. 

Tbl2\  ^^'t  'f  i!  anything  they  don't  know,  papa 
They  hear  it  at  home.  Little  George  Magnavilk  Ve^ 
P^ts  to  Tristram  all  the  gossip  that  he  ifst^s  to  a" 
dLJ^a'm  ^^'"'^  Yorkshire's,  you  know;  and  the 
Wuke  of  Ambleside's  son  does  the  same.     ' 


ai 


It  really  isn't 


Let   Not    Man   Put  Asunder 

Tristram's  fault,  papa  dear.  But  if  you'll  only  say  it 
isn't  irue  I  can  write  to  assure  him  that  you — " 

"  Upon  my  soul,  things  have  reached  a  pretty  pass 
when  a  girl  like  you — " 

"Oh,  I,  papal  Don't  think  of  me.  If  only  it  isn't 
true — " 

"  It's  a  scandal  that  a  mere  child  of  eighteen  should 
catechise  her  father  on  a  subject  like  this. " 

"I'm  not  a  child,  papa.  I'm  a  woman.  If  I  know 
all  this  it  is  because  no  one  ever  shielded  me." 

"I  think,  dearest,"  said  Petrina,  "that  if  you'll  come 
away  with  me  I  can  explain  everything  to  you  better 
than  if  we  were  not  alone." 

"  I  don't  ask  for  explanations,  Petrina.  My  question 
is  one — " 

"Which  you  have  no  right  to  put,"  Sir  Humphrey 
burst  out,  furiously.  "  Have  you  no  shame,  Hippolyta?" 

"Shame,  father  I"  the  girl  cried,  with  flaming  cheeks. 
"  Do  you  talk  to  me  of  shame?  Is  it  no  shame  that  you 
and  my  mother  live  like  strangers?  Is  it  no  shame 
that  she  is  taking  other  men's  money,  while  other  women 
are  taking  yours?    Is  it  no  shame—?" 

"  Be  quiet,  Hippolyta,"  Vassall  said  in  her  ear.  "  You 
are  saying  more  than  you  have  a  right  to  say." 

"  I  know  what  I'm  speaking  of,' Uncle  Harry.  But  I 
didn't  come  here  to  talk  of  it.  I  came  to  ask  a  question, 
and  no  one  will  give  me  an  answer. " 

"That  a  daughter  should  put  such  a  question  to 
her  father,"  said  Sir  Humphrey,  "is  beyond  all  be- 
lief. " 

"  You  have  only  to  say  no,  papa,  and  I  will  go  away. 
Surely  it  is  a  simple  thing.  Is  there  such  a  person  as 
this — this  actress?    Have  you — ?" 

"  Hippolyta,  I  forbid  you  to  go  on.  I  never  dreamed 
that  a  child  of  mine  should  come  to  this." 

212 


Let  Not  Man  Put   Asunder 

"That's  how  the  sins  of  the  fathers  are  visited  on  the 
children,"  she  returned. 

"The  fathers  can  answer  for  their  own  sins,"  Sir 
Humphrey  asserted,  trying  to  take  an  injured  tone. 

"But  the  children  have  to  bear  them,"  the  girl  de- 
clared. 

"  Bear?"  he  cried.    "  What  have  you  ever  had  to  bear? 
Haven't  I  given  you  a  luxurious  home?" 
"Yes,  father." 

"  And  every  worldly  advantage?" 
''Yes,  father." 

"And  allowed  you  to  have  your  own  way?" 
"Yes,  father." 
"Then  what  more— ?" 

"Oh,  much  more,  papal  There's  something  better 
than  all  the  things  you've  named ;  and  we've  never  had 
it.  We  crave  it.  Tristram  craves  it.  I  crave  it.  Even 
little  baby  Humphrey  knows  he  doesn't  get  it." 
^^  "Then  I  give  it  up,"  Sir  Humphrey  said,  impatiently. 
"  Run  away,  Hippolyta,  and  learn  to  be  a  sensible,  obe- 
dient girl  who  doesn't  meddle  with  what  doesn't  concern 
her." 

"Doesn't  concern?"  she  cried,  taking  a  step  nearer 
him,  and  holding  out  the  blue-covered  journal.  "Do 
you  mean  that  a  story  like  this,  in  which  my  father's 
name  is  dragged  in  the  mire,  doesn't  concern  me?  Pray, 
then,  whom  does  it  concern?  Does  it  concern  mamma^ 
Does  It  concern  Tristram?  Does  it  concern  you?  Does 
jt  concern  this  lady  — this  charming  young  actress? 
Oh,  father,  you  dcn't  know  what  you're  saying.  I  am 
your  daughter.  The  foulness  that  bespatters  you  be- 
spatters me.  You  may  try  to  separate  your  life  from 
mine,  but  I  can  never  separate  mine  from  yours.  I 
bear  your  name.  I  carry  the  stamp  of  your  features 
in  my  own." 

2i3 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Hippolyta,  dear."  Petrina  interrupted,  "you  are 
ipowmg  excited."  *^  '      "" 

■  1??" ,'  "'"P  '"*'  Petrina-    I  demand  what  I  have  a 
right  to  know.    Once  more,  father^" 

"What  good  wiU  it  do  you  to  be  told  the  truth?"  Vas- 
sall  asked,  laying  his  hand  on  her  arm.  "  Why  not  be 
advised  by  those—"  ^ 

Jl  *^7l.^"^5'^i°  ^°'^'  V"*='*  ^"y-    And  if  the 
truth  IS  that  all  this  i.s  nothing  but  a  lie— I    Oh   it 

must  be  that  I  Say  so,  father.  Say  so,  Petrina. 
Why  do  you  keep  me  pleading  and  panting  here? 
Uon  t  you  see  that  I'm  breaking  down?  Father  I 
dont  ask  much.  You  know  how  Tristram  loves 
you.  You  know  how  in  his  heart  he  thinks  there  is 
no  one  in  the  worid  like  you.  And  I  think  so.  We've 
been  so  proud  of  you,  father,  even  when  you  and 
mother  don  t  agree.  Tell  me,  papa,  tell  me  that  it 
isn  t  true.  Why  don't  you  speak?  Why  doesn't 
some  one  speak?  It's  so  easy  to  say.  Just  a  word 
and  yet  you  stand  there  looking  at  me  as  if  you  were 
all  dumb — "  , 

"  Dear,  dear  Hippolyta,  come  with  me,"  Petrina  cried 
throwing  hrr  arms  about  the  giri.  "Come  into  the 
next  room.  I  can  tell  you  everything  in  a  way  that 
you  will  understand." 

"No,  no,  Petrina,  I'll  go  when  papa  says  it  isn't 
true.  Papal  Papal  it  is  true  I  You're  turning  white 
It  t.i  true.  Uncle  Harry,  take  me  away.  I  want  to  go 
down  into  the  street,  to  get  into  the  air.  No,  I  can't  go 
just  yet.  Let  me  sit  down.  Is  there  a  fan  anywhere?" 
She  sank  into  a  chair.  For  a  minute  she  kept  her 
self-control.  Then,  with  face  bowed  into  her  hands 
she  burst  into  sobs.  ' 

But  Sir  Humphrey  could  hold  out  no  longer.    What- 
ever pure  love  was  in  his  nature  was  for  his  "httle 
214 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

Polly  "  as  he  called  her.  Dropping  on  one  knee  be^ 
Mde  her  chair,  he  threw  his  arms  about  her 

"It  isn't  true.  It  isn't  true,"  he  murmured.  "You 
can  say  so  to  Tristic.    It  isn't  true." 

"Was  there  ever  a  more  useless  Ue?"  Vassall  whis- 
pered  to  Petnna.  Before  many  weeks  are  over  she 
will  know  it's  true." 

"We  must  try  to  shield  her  from  it,"  Petrina  whis^ 
pered  in  return.       We  must  take  her  out  of  England  " 


CHAPTER  IX 
J-'I  ™l^^  ^  ^^^  ''^"^''  S"  and  see  Emmy  "  Petrina 

sail  re''„1,?H'°"rn"i^"'^'  ^^^^  ^'"  '^'^^  •»«  0"t/'  Vas- 
and  do  them  A  ^'°''  ^!."  "'  ^laridge's,  and  Oien  go 
we  me^t  her""  ^"  ^°"  ''"""^  ^"^^''--^    0'  «hf" 

ii  you  d  said  for  your  sake—" 

ClarMge-r'"'"*  ""^  ^''^  '*^^-     ^^^^^  ^^ey  drove  to 

iJnlZ  %^^^  "^"^^f  V^«^«"  "net  his  brother-in-law 

"I  tv    old      ^■'■.^rP''"^  '"^^"^  '"^  -"d  o"d 
"  let's To  ;nd,\"'     ^^.u'^'^'  ^^'""^  Vassall's  arm, 
let  s  go  and  lunch  together  at  Prince's.     I  don't  want 

At  table  Sir  Humphrey  was  out  of  spirits. 

plied,  m  answer  to  a  suggestion  from  VassaH     ■' She^ 
216 


Let  Not  Man  Put  A^ander 
S  l^  ^?  ^^"if',^^  'he  cha„g,.  of  seen,   would 

what  I  told  her  yesterday  afternoon,  but  ui.cr,  you  had 
gone  away  she  braced  up  a  bit,  and  we  parted  friends 

.  lL^°°liw'  ^?**  """^^  ^'  "^^  '«'  «*en  a  rJnts 
called  to  book  for  his— his— his— " 

"Yes,  I  understand,"  said  Vassall 
.   "By  a  daughter  of  eighteen.     It's  the  beastly  pry- 
mg  press,  that's  what  it  is.     There's  no  more  privacy  • 
there  are  no  more  children;  precious  soon,  if  the  divorce 
null  grinds  on,  there  will  be  no  more  wives  " 

"  There  will  always  be  Miss  Hetty  Viennes  " 

of  *W  lT^  '-i^u  ''T'"  *^^^  '^'"-     ^'^^  ^^^h«J  ^y  hands 
ot  that  lot.     The  hussy's  got  me  into  a  pretty  mess 

when  my  own  children  hale  me  to  their  judgment-seat. 

There  s  Tristram,  fifteen  years  old.     How  am  I  ever 

going    to  look  him  in  the  face  again?    I'm  blowed 

1  •  T i  ^u,^  ^  ''""''^  ''""S  ^"  a<^"°i  f°r  damages 
agamst  that  blue<overed  rag.  I'll  tell  you  what  it  is 
ilarry;  as  soon  as  this  cursed  business  is  over  I'm  eoi 
mg  to  hook  it.  I'm  going  to  boil  myself  at  some  hole 
of  a  foreign  bath,  and  then  I'll  cut  over  to  America 
X  ve  already  promised  Lechmere  to  go  with  him  to  do 
^;1"'^  for,a  complaint  I  haven't  got,  and  it's  just  to 
hide  myself  from  Hippolyta  and  Tristram.  Gad  if  it 
was  Emmy,  it  would  be  another  thing.  But  that  a 
man  shouldn  t  be  able  to  turn  to  the  right  or  the  left 
-especially  to  the  left-without  thinking  of  his  own 

,-f  T  h'"";  IJ  r"f '"«lj  jf'«  inhuman;  and  I'm  damned 
II  1  don  t  think  it  s  hard. 

Vassall  went  on  with  his  lunch  in  silence. 
A  pretty  pair  we  shall  make,  Lechmere  and  I  "  Sir 
Humphrey  began  again,  as  he  hastily  swallowed  his 
io<xl.       Gad,  It  makes  me  laugh.     Two  worn-out  grass- 
widowers,  keeping  each  other  company,  while  our  wives 
217 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 


Look 


e's  and  mine — forming 


that  used  to  be— but,  by  th 
over  there.  Well,  speak  o 
wives  that  used  to  be— Lecl 
a  group  on  their  side." 

Vassal]  looked  up  hurriedly.  Madame  de  Prony 
tall  and  willowy  hke  a  girl,  dressed  simply  in  gray' 
was  crossing  the  great  room  to  a  table  in  a  comer 
After  her  walked  Lady  de  Bohun,  brisk  and  smiling 
nodding  to  friends  as  she  passed  them  by.  And  then! 
at  a  httle  distance,  came  Petrina— slowly  and  gravely' 
bowing  too,  as  she  caught  sight  of  acquaintances  here 
and  there. 

.  "X^^y  haven't  seen  us,"  Sir  Humphrey  remarked 
indifferently.  "But  I  say,  old  fellow,  what's  up?"  he 
inquired,  as  he  looked  at  Vassall. 

"Nothing,  nothing." 

"You're  a  bit  white  about  the  gills." 

"It's  nothing,"  Vassall  repeated,  with  an  effort  to 
master  himself.  "  A  touch  of  indigestion,  perhaps.  I'll 
take  a  fine  champagne  with  the  coffee.  I  shall  be  all 
right  in  a  minute. 

"I  don't  think  we  need  trouble  those  ladies,"  Sir 
Humphrey  remarked  when  he  had  paid  his  bill.     "Em- 
my knows  I  hate  to  have  her  seen  with  the  de  Prony 
I  m  not  particular.  Heaven  knows,  but  I  pause  at  Mrs 
Richard  Lechmere.     By  the  way,  they  say,  she's  tre^ 
mendously  m  debt,  and  that  it  isn't  as  easy  as  it  used 
to  be  to  find  fools  to  pay.     Her  voice  isn't  keeping  its 
promise,  either.     She's  been  singing  out  of  tune  the 
whole  season.     It's  doubtful,  even,  whether  she's  taken 
on  another  year  at  Covent  Garden,  in  spite  of  all  the 
pull  she's  got  and  the  fuss  that's  been  made  about  her 
And  if  you  don't  mind  my  saying  it,  Harry,  old  boy' 
I  wouldn't  let  Petrina  make  a  friend  of  a  lady  whose 
name — " 

218 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asund 


er 

Je^**'  ^'*™^''  ^"  "^^^'"  ^^^^^"  '^^^'  testily,  as  he 

"Well  if  I'd  ever  had  as  much  control  over  my  wife 

as  you  have  over  yours,  she  wouldn't  be  hobnobbing 

towards^^SLr  ^'^''  °"*  "'  '^--^  -  •^■^  -y 
The  brothers-in-law  parted  in  Piccadilly. 
Hope  you  11  be  better  soon,"  Sir  Humphrey  said 
vou  t!f  t  r'^^rl'-  •  "J^"'sindigestion,letmeadW  e 

as  he'u™:d":wi?'  ""™^^^^'  *'>^"'^^'"  -^'^  ^--» 

«u"  mT*^  ^l**^  '"  ^""^  'i^^e'f  alone.  That  Petrina 
sho,^d  have  disregarded  his  wishes  on  a  poinfon  wSch 
he  fel    so  strongly  wounded  him  to  thVquick        H^ 

hr^uSttiik^  '^  °"^'^^  ^°  ^^"^  -  -^^^"e 

moved  only  by  the  desire  to  calm  by  physical  action 
the  agitation  of  his  mind  and  nerves     On  he  wen^ 
through  Kmghtsbridge,  into    the   Park,  across  Ken 
Mngton  Palace  Gardens,  back  again  into  Kensinfton 
High  Street,  through  Earl's  Court  to  Brompton  Road 
along  St.  George's  Place  to  Constitution  Hill  and  th^n 
skirting  the  grounds  of  Stafford  House  and  Saence 

SoTef'  S°f  u'"  "?!"'  ""?  ^°  '°  *he  Carlton  House 
flZt  u  ^?  '^  ^^  •^""''^  ""t  ^alk  far  enough  nor 
fast  enough,  nor  long  enough 

When  he  reached  home  Petrina  was  already  dressing 

Z.T'l     J*""  "•?''  ^^^^^  '"  their  own  aJartmenU 

Has  a  silent  one.     It  was  not  until  the  carriagTwS 

219 


m 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

announced   and  Petrina.  cloaked  for  going  out,  stood 
fastemng  her  gloves,  that  the  n,att«  wWch  ;as^ 

t«^i!^"  "^f^  "^^  ^"^"^^  "P^'"-    Vassall  was  d^ 
termined  not  to  speak  of  it  till  she  did. 

Harry,  before  ^ye  go,"  she  said,  "  I've  something  to 

.^wJ  ^T^^  *'"*  ^^''^"e  de  Prony  to-day  " 
„  Why  do  you  teU  me?"  he  asked,  coldly. 
I  didn  t  hke  her     I  thought  you  might  care  to  know 

But  smce  apparently  you  don't—" 

PetnW^  *^  something  that  I  do  care  for  very  much, 

h.^t^'fZ  u'^  ^f  *^^  t""^*'  °f  the  whip.    She  held 
l^riSo^^diff^eSre""^"'^  <iuivered,b^utshe  spoke 

beJarrtMrLrr^u-gSlTo.^"^  ""'^  ''"^' 
"  »t,\Tf '"  ^'^  Nassau,  taking  no  notice  of  her  words 

«nH  i  /u,"  ""^  ^PP^*'  •"  P"''"<=  *"h  a  notorious 

and  disreputable  woman—" 

.hi  1  ''•T'i  ""'"u^J  "''^  "^*^"S  to  things  of  that  sort," 
f,  X.     '  {'^"ghtily,  movmg  towards  the  door. 
You  shall  hsten  to  what  I  think  right  to  say  to  you  " 

he  said,  putting  himself  between  the  door  and  her 
Vou  are  my  wife." 
"Yes,'   she  interposed,   speaking  very  distincUy 

"What's  the  matter?"  she  asked, tranquilly.    "You 
look  as  if  you  had  seen  a  ghost. " 

"  !u  '"r^"  !?*  ^^'  "''^  ^  composure  equal  to  her  own, 

is  did  °        ^  '^'""^"  '^^°™  '  "'""S'**  ''^'°g'  l*"*  who 

220 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 
'I  a-  who  never  lived,  perhaps. " 


Ill 


CHAPTER  X 

Before  the  summer  was  over  Lady  de  Bohun's 
divorce  had  been  made  absolute. 

It  had  been  managed  quietly,  and  there  had  been  com- 
paratively little  scandal.  The  fact  that  there  was  no 
defence,  and  that  the  other  lady  in  the  case  was  a  "  pro- 
fessional '  per<!on,  negatived  what  is  commonly  called 
sensation.  ■'  The  closest  of  all  earthly  ties  was  broken 
with  an  ease  which  seemed  to  both  husband  and  wife 
incredible.  They  found  it  hard  to  realize  that  they  were 
free. 

VThen  Sir  Humphrey  received  the  intelligence,  he 
went  home  to  his  chambers,  locked  the  door,  threw 
himself  face  downwards  on  his  bed,  and  sobbed.  It 
was  the  first  time  he  had  done  so  since  his  father's 
death ;  but  the  strain  of  the  past  two  months  had  un- 
nerved him,  and  nineteen  years  of  married  life  had 
meant  more  to  him  than  he  supposed.  Then  he  arose, 
washed  his  face,  recurled  his  mustache,  put  on  a  new 
suit  from  Poole's,  and  went  out  to  begin  his  life  all  over 
again. 

Lady  de  Bohun  was  at  Orpington  Park  when  the 
decision  was  made  known  to  her.  She  took  it  with  a 
hard  little  laugh,  and  then  sat  down  to  accept  her  in- 
vitations to  the  North.  She  hummed  wliile  she  wrote, 
and  wondered  what  Humphrey  would  say. 

Petrina  and  Vassall  had  kept  Hippolyta  on  the  Con- 
tinent. She  saw  no  English  papers,  and  heard  no 
news  but  what  was  written  her.     In  Tristram's  scrawled 

222 


Let  Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

S£"  t  nTEn^iranTv  °'  ll^^^  i^"^*^^  ^  -'»>- 
Eton  to  see  toe  bov  at  1«  f  .  '*''  ^""'^  ''°^"  '» 
coming  divorce  w°iht  much  \f"'^  '°  ^"P'^'"  'he 
assumi     The  liul    man  accepfeTS?  f  ^1'=°"''' 

£i^^^SSi=-!otitrttS 

^^•;it's  mother's  fault,"  he  sobbed-"all  the  boys  say 
"The  boys?" 

tha7^:'m*r  sa'ysta!  my  m^othef- '^^'^"^^■"<=  -^-^ 
E'father  "      "'  '"  """""  ^-P°"-Whty  ffr  either 

sheLSi,Krr:i'r'''  -^<'  P-^-a.  anTso 

■she^;rn,':t  thSTo-eSTyr  -"^^ '-'^y-" 

under  the  trees  of  th^e  LichtSthJ.e  "^11™"""^  '"'''■ 
And  has  it  taken  place?" 

:;  tii'vorS:-"  '"^'"^"^'  ^''^  a  «t-'  °^  -rprise. 
"Yes,  dear;  but—" 

AXi:t2vz  t~K  !;■  tr  ^^r-^- 

223 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 


bering  that 


both 


.    _  my  father's  and  my  mother's 

child.     Only  if  you  and  Uncle  Harry  want  to  help  me 
there  is  a  way." 
"You  know  in  advance  that  we  will  take  it." 
"  It  is  in  asking  papa  and  mamma  to  allow  me  some 
day— not  yet,  but  some  day— to  go  into  the  convent." 

A  little  later  they  returned  to  England,  and  went 
straight  to  Orpington  Park.  Tristram,  home  for  the 
holidays,  was  at  the  station.  The  brother  and  si.ster 
met  with  some  embarrassment.  They  spoke  of  their 
mother,  but  avoided  their  father's  name. 

"So  you  didn't  go  to  Scotland,  after  all,"  Vas.sall 
remarked  to  his  sister,  as  they  sat  about  the  tea-table 
in  the  drawing-room,  just  after  their  arrival. 

"No,"  said  Lady  de  Bohun,  with  a  little  pout.  "I 
changed  my  mind  and  cancelled  my  acceptances. 
Scotland's  so  wet — " 

"And  a  widow  whose  husband  isn't  dead,"  inter- 
posed Tristram,  "always  gets  a  damp  welcome  every- 
where.    George  Magna ville's  mother  said  that." 

"If  I'm  in  need  of  a  husband  she  might  spare  me  one 
of  hers,"  Lady  de  Bohun  rejoined,  with  spirit. 

"I'm  tired,"  said  Hippolyta,  putting  down  her  un- 
tasted  cup  of  tea.     "I  think  I  shall  go  to  my  room." 

"You  clear  out,  too,"  said  Vassall  to  Tristram.  "Go 
and  see  if  the  luggage  has  arrived." 

Left  to  themselves,  the  three  older  ones  talked  with 
greater  ease.  Lady  de  Bohun  was  as  brisk  as  ever, 
but  Vassall  and  Petrina  both  detected  a  new,  perhaps 
a  forced,  note  in  her  cheerfulness.  They  observed,  too, 
that  her  face  was  pinched  and  wan.  Her  delicate  beauty 
seemed  a  little  faded,  and  more  than  ever  fragile. 

"  Have  you  seen  anything  of  Humphrey?"  she  asked, 
when  they  had  talked  of  many  other  things.  She 
seemed  almost  embarrassed  as  she  spoke. 

224 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
"  A.  7u   ^     ■       ^"  ''•^  street?" 

He  seemed  very  well." 
"Was  he  alone?"  she  insistpH      "nu 

at  SXriaSersijTtLflirS^"  ^"^'^J 
try  to  get  some  of  the  dust  off  "  ^"''  ^°  "P  ^"'^ 

th^e  was'a  ne.'  "■°°'"  ^^"^  '^^  ^^^un  laughed-but 
hayjontrt'^-r'''^'''''^^^^''*' -hen  her  brother 

"He  didn't,"  Petrina  declared.     "I  never  knew  till 
now  that  there  was  anybody  with  him."  **" 

r e'oUfeSf.  ^'i^^^i'j^.  "rri-f- h^^^^^^^ 

Petrina  dear?"  "^  ^'™  *  y°"  «  httle  more  suspicious. 
Well,  It  s  nothing  to  me  what  Humphrey  does  " 

tt  wudS-or"th:  r  '""^''.^"'^  aiitLtr;f 

you  knowTt-rsfm  abCr    '""  ^"^'^  '  ^"^^     ^° 
Why,  he's  gone  to  America." 

forwari-^iL'    ^'-^   ''   ^"^-    -^-•'   '-^^ 
225 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

"Didn't  you  know?  He  was  on  his  wa  •  to  Cher- 
bourg when  Harry  met  him." 

"  Well,  upon  my  word  I  I  think  tlwt  at  least  he  might 
liave  written. " 

"He did  write— to  Hippolyta." 

"But  I  suppose  I  have  some  claim." 

"Well,  Emmy,  you  know  that  the  claim  you 
had—" 

"  Don't  talk  to  me  about  that,  Petrina.  I  know  quite 
well  what  I've  done;  and  as  long  as  Humphrey  keeps 
within  a  certain  distance,  where  I  can  hear  about  him 
and  know  what  he's  doing,  I'm  resigned.  I  accept  the 
inevitable.    But— " 

"Resigned?  Accept?  Inevitable?  How  well  you 
choose  your  words." 

"But  when  it  comes  to  goinj;  a  America — to  the 
other  side  of  the  world,  I  do  think  I— Well,"  she  cried, 
jumping  up  and  beginning  to  move  about  the  room, 
"as  I  said  before,  it's  nothing  to  me,  nothing  whatever. 
He  might  go  to  Australia,  he  might  go  to  Fiji,  wherever 
that  is,  and  I  shouldn't  give  him  a  thought.  Of  course 
I  have  to  remember  that  he's  the  children's  father. 
You  can't  expect  me  to  forget  that.  But  as  to  anything 
else,  he's  as  dead  to  me  as  if  he  were  the  hero  of  one  of 
last  year's  novels— deader.  I  don't  want  to  be  told 
where  he  goes,  the  Lord  knows.  But  I  should  think  his 
own  feeling,  his  natural  courtesy — and  he  was  ah/ays 
polite,  now  wasn't  he?" 
^'Always,"  Petrina  interjected. 
"That's  one  thing  I  liked  about  him,  even  at  the  worst 
of  times.  Well,"  she  exclaimed  in  another  tone,  throw- 
ing herself  into  a  chair,  "  let  him  go.  I  never  asked  him 
a  question  as  to  what  he  meant  to  do,  and  I  never  shall. 
Did  he  tell  Harry  what  he  was  going  to  do  when  he  got 
there?" 

226 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
lhe'?Ss"''"-'"^  ''"*  ""^  ^"  «"■"«  '°  Lenox,  to 

so  indifferent  about  him  aTliln'^M '"'"''"■'  ^^^ 

without  a  word  to  5wTfS>""  ^°""  '"  ^'•■™a. 
"His—?" 

Lady  de  Dohun  sat  up  straight  in  her  chair  «nH  • 
her  a.r  there  was  something  like  a  c.M-enge     '  " 

su£r  ^'"'^'  '"^  ^^^■"«'  '''-^«n«l  "o'Ler  on  the 

ril™  ^-llupZe'r  "°"'  ^"T^  ''^^^'"  «he  said, 
Thp  »„     °"PP°^e  ^'nner,  as  usual,  s  at  eight  " 

JotTorTheSr  *"  ^'^P".*^*-""'  --  «  ^heer. 

and    whl   i-  '^  ^**y  "P  «"d  dine  with  them- 

S'  h:??n   rsVshlT^lS  ^Pt  HippolytaTel 
vivacity  there  wrsil,.;      *^."f«' ^nghtly;  but  in  her 

thdr  S'tL°:r '^  °'  "'  -»•-  '^^  -'J  h'«  -^e  were  in 
"I  wonder  if  she  isn't  a  little  lonely?"  he  said 
But  Petnna  made  no  reply.    She^los^  ?he  door 
227 


Let  Not  Man   Put   Asunder 

between  her  room  and  his,  and  began  lo  think  alone 
newlmcs.    Presently  Emmy's  tap  was  heard.  ' 

Come  m,  dear,"  Petrina  said 

herpto^Xet^l^Sn^r  ^'''^'  "''-- 
Vou'-ncSrCeXid.  'tr  L"^  ""'''  ^««'"  '-'^«'>^- 

bv^h^n^  '^^T  '"'"'■'*''  ""PP'^Sf  •"'»  «"  arm-chair 
oy  the  open  wmdow. 

Alru':i^^^  '"  l"^**'"^  ^'  ^^y-"  "he  said.  "He's  a 
much  h  •  ^Z-  u-  ^Tl  "''"^  '  "-^^  "°«'^«»  before  how 
Sumohrov  r'  ''^'  /^*"'  '■"'  ^'^'^  '^'^'^^  called  him 
now  -  Wn  .'^r'"'  r?"^'*>'"«  '■•'«'••  «'  the  time,  but 
haTe  anS"""-'  ""'"'''     '  ^""'^'"^  -  shall  never 

"Under  the  circumstances,  I  should  hope  not  " 
You  re  so  unfeeling,  Petrina.     I've  always  noticed 
that  you  weren't  m  the  least  maternal  " 

There  were  several  replies  hoverinR  on  Petrina's  lips, 
''",!  fj;?  ^'^t  °"  brushing  her  hair  in  silence. 

after  a  long  j^use,  "that  Gentian  Tyrell  was  a  perfec 
Jittle  schemer? 
"Rather,"  Petrina  admitted.  "Why  do  vou  ask?" 
Because  when  she  was  here  I  thought  her  rather 
silly  about  Humphrey.  It  was  nothing  to  me— then 
but —  ' 

"But  it  is  now?" 

"Oh    dear,  no  I    Less  than  ever.    But  it  seems  to 
iTttle  TO     -'"^^'  ^^^^  ""^  moment  I  give  Humphrey  a 
"A  great  deal  of  rope,  I  should  say." 

J  " '^^^l^^  ^h°"''^  SO  straight  to  stay  with  them.   Now 
doesn  t  it  seem  so  to  you?" 

"  I  can  hardly  say  that  it  does,  Emmy.     Poor  Hum- 
228 


Let   Not  Man   Put   Asunder 

True,  dear,  but  all  the  sauie-" 
fleeing.     ■  ^''""  '"^"^  '''°*'^'  ^^'l  «--«»  to  be  re- 

"I  wiKhr5:;^:t^,''tu';^ « t  «Ht  pau., 

to  Faneuil  Hill      I',„  i  V' "  °  '"^^  '"  '"■•«■■  him  up 

much  XethL.  and  ^dL   ""7  ^T''''  ^"^^  - 

whl5"'  do  you  mean  by  safer,  Emmy?    Safer  from 
I-ZdrilumUan   '  ''"'  '"''^  -"'^  '"V-'f-" 

in  a^aEretsl^rther'^- '  ^^'""^  «-^'^"'- 
meaning  to  the  ques«on    "^  "  ""'"  ""  '"'"'"^^'y 

but-"*  '°  '"^  '""='^-     "-^  —  over  now  and  then, 
''But  you  are  not  yet  decided?" 

that  wdghrwhhtr?r™'!  "'l'*''^'  ^"'^  °f — 

little,  just  a  Uttle  T^n  I,      '  *r~*'""  '  y°"  """^  it  a 
"bJ"  a  divo  c;  l^t  ^r"  ^  'f'^"  attentions?" 

"' rife  rue  "'lldt  dirr'  ''^«"y*ing  to  wait  for  " 
"but  ^mtleei^tt.^^T''^"'^^'^'  thoughtfully, 
ceded  by  cer4Tn  rtten'oVs-""^^"^^^  ^'^°"'''  "^  P- 
told'S^'o^""  ""'  ^'"'"^  ^''^™  «"  l««t  winter.    You 

"Ah  yes.     But  the  attention.,  one  gets  as  a  .narried 
229 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
wornan  are  so  different  from  those  one  receives  a, 
ha'nf  rS'"  ^'   ''^^'"'  '-'^"S  -t  herself  in  a 

pi^SiZ-I'LTe^hT^oS^^/  '^"^'"  ^^'•^  '^  ^^^ 

came  and  stood  Iooki„g|o^„:[J^"^-    ^^^y^^^^»^ 
«.  m^^ch  „"u '^°"  ^^""  ^^'"  '"^^  ^^'  "-  fine  and  yet 

js£-£-teS-n.S;rrt£ 

^,^„„     I        ""Sgesuon  oj  nervousness  and  tear«     P«^ 
J^na^glanced  „p  quickly.     They  looked  ^cro^er";: 

"How  queer  you  seem,  Emmy,  dearl" 
halfSob  """'  ^'"^  ''"''''"  «he  cried,  with  a 

asUo/a:^irCh   «^—«^  Herself  with 
dal^/lL^th^eta^s'  "Ki'^'^^"  ^^^  -^«»' 

that  IVe  wanted%^/Ssh*ThetrJT:^^r.ri 
hTin^trio  /iiJ  Tsf  J?d  '"T"  ?  ^° 

:vef  Sncf 'h^"'^^^"^"  "-^-^  'r'Ta terir 

™e     Oh    PeW^^'Y   "^"''    "'"   «"    --e  back  to 

Ifarrv  so  srunM?  '  V^^  ^''  ^°"   "°  'J^"«^?    Why  is 
narryso  stupid?    You've  invited  Hippolyla  toAmer- 

230 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
"Then  come,  dear,"  said  Petrina 


rnt  fff 


CHAPTER  I 

Th!r^  "^u"^"  ''up  '°P**'  ^'''^^Pt  they  be  agreed?" 

This  was   he  problem  Vassall  and  Petrina  were  now 

consciously  trying  to  work  out.     Up  to  their  return 

to  Ammca  they  had  been  able  to  postpone  its  solu- 

wa?k  a   '  rt  °""  "'^^  ^^  "^^^"^  immediately  to 

«ll^^*  fu^l^^fr  t^""- «™^al  Petrina  found  herself 
alone  at  the  breakfast-table  in  the  bow-fronted  embra- 
sure of  the  dmmg-room  at  Faneuil  Hill 

rZT^^!  ^'^  ^°"^  *°  ^°'*°"  ^y  «"  ^ariy  train.  He 
could  not  stay  away  any  longer  from  "  the  office. "  For 
the  rest  of  the  autumn  he  would  be  at  Faneuil  HiU  from 
Saturday  afternoon  to  Monday  morning  every  week. 
The  remainder  of  the  time  he  would  be  at  work 

He  had  breakfasted  alone,  and  had  just  driven  away. 
w;J^  m"^'  ^e^J^'ng.absently  over  the  panorama  of 
wooded  New  Hampshire  hills,  sat  waiting  for  her  moth- 
s'h°s  action  "^"  ^^"^"^  ^"  '*™"«  disapproval 

"vilf^v!^  the  parting  of  the  ways,"  she  thought. 
Either  he  must  walk  with  me,  or  I  shall  go  on  alone." 
I  hey  had  not  quarrelled:  they  had  only  differed 
courteously.  Since  leaving  England  there  had  been 
severalocca-sions  on  which  Vassall  had  lost  his  temper, 
but .  etrina  had  had  at  conunand  the  soft  answer  which 
soothes  for  the  moment  but  leaves  a  sting  behind 

„n.nJl^''^u    ^^^'f  "^"""^  *°  ^^^^  the  Boston  house 
opened,    she  said,  as  she  leaned  with  her  husband  on 

235 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

Hippolyta,  to  whom  "hTSf  ^^''^  «*«  B°h«n  TncI 
chaffering  for  laces  and  bS  ,!^"'  "T  "°^^''  *«e 
Irishwomen  on  the  t^der  ^"'^'^  ^^^^  *'«>  the 

"that  w:i'J,;,'g^^l'i'^  --*  on   ignoring  his  words. 

Hill  by  way  of  Kee^e  ^tI!^°"  u^""^  ^'"^  ^o  Faneui 

Boston,  allfhe  work  on  the  ^    '■''''""  "^^  "^"me  back  to 

Vassall  startT  n,us,c-room  will  be  finished. " 

wiSt:c;r"  .^i^LiSr^'n^ii^fi  ^"^"  ^^^  -ked, 

the  idea  up."  ^  ""''^^^'ood  that  you  had  given 

wiy'Tw^rut"!;^ :;  tzr  '^v'  ^^  -^-^ 

people  at  a  time.     Besides  ff  tl  5°'"^  '°  ''^^^  ™any 
but  for  dancing."  '"'  '*  ^'"  ^°  »ot  only  for  music 

rny^JStnt^r  Wassail  protested,  "surely 

smile."''  '"^'^  ™"^  >«  yours,"  she  responded  with'a 

it  Kme^LTtty  "hSav"^'^!^  '""^  -''i^*-  When 
the  moment  wLS^'TrVj^Jn'tTdTe'  ^''""j  '°' 
by  force,  but  by  diplomatic  Xitneis  Th '^''*^' "°* 
had  come  when  the  ouesfmn  1     !  u    ^'^    ^"^  moment 

"I  shall  not  live  in  ru  T^^  ^^  d'scussed. 
what  Petrina  had  to^y"'"''"'^^^'"  -««  the  burden  of 

huZ'd  Wgume'r  """  ''^^^  ^'--here,"  was  the 
If  either  yielded  it  was  hp     Ti,  *  •     , 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

perceived  thkt  VaS;,,^^*  tT"'"  u'''""  P'='""« 
Hill  that  he  might  returtr  '° '^^^,!  her  at  Faneuil 
which  for  her^ad  itUe  ^.  ."'"^^  Work  was  a  word 
no  profession  and  had  S  "^'  ^^^her  had  had 
Vassall  would  remain  in  hi.  f^  "fu"*^^  *°  ^^^  t^^t 
a  financial  reasoT^or  hl^  ddnt^o  ^'"'^  "^'^  "°  •""^- 
therlt;^r^rh^:r™';j-^P-ted;  but,  when 

her  a  foolish  one.  It  was  not  ii\"^"™'"*  '''"''^  *° 
of  pride,  but  of  utility  There  '"^"'  °P'"'°"'  ^  ''"^■■'«°n 
for  him  to  do,  thSs  whfchT  '""?r^°^*'"*'''"g« 
and  for  which  PartJa^tetarmaShS.  ^'^'''' 

taJX':^o::,jtietK^^ 

passed  through  her  mind  '     '"''"  '*'^"^"  ^^"""Shts 

ahl  haVS:^  herX'e^a'n^'Z':-  ^^"^""  -^''-  ^^en 

;o?v?biTii---^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

"S:^fi=f^^K^-nIthou.ht 
rien^"    You  thmk  that?    It  isn't  the'usual  expe- 

has  passed  over  them  aTtsllv  a?'"f'"'^^""'^*'^^^^'=t 
c^S^Tt^^^.^^---^Ss:ifun- 

It  leaves  one's  self  more  one's  self  ff,=„ 
close  contact  with  another  life  ,^1  TL    r     ^''^-    ^^e 
is  a  point  beyond  wWch  nn^  !^  ^^^  ^^"^^  "^^t  there 

that'^rhapsTrfm  ght  be  aTet,^"    i  "^f  *°  ''''"'^ 
of  boundary-lin._a  cfll?y  S^^,  ^^^f  ^ 


'  ''11 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

n^r  together  but  thernt'r^i"'' '" '"  '"^^  ™«^  '- 
"Idon^    '?"''" '^■"'^^'■"  a  wife" 

cynicaT  AReTaStrL- "^  °*'>™  *•>- 
their  time  trying  to  piecrto^e.^^  u?^  ^'^  ^J^^ing 
rather  pathetic,  I  thiT  and  !  f  """"*  ^°P^-  It's 
.   "K  I  didn't  Uw  you  ;'erTh' 'nr-' m'  ^"?^y" 

her  toast.  ^^"^^''^^ '°  ^y-  vvhile  she  buttered 

"t.^  — '"l^iC  -y  -  experimentr' 
a-days,  and  marriage  mos![  of  aM  ''  •='^P^"'»«>tal  now- 
Im  not  sure  that  I  follow  you" 

andZLiJelS  S^pl^'j;  fJV"  T^  -"«- 
women,  and  especiaHy  New  Fnl,  !,  ^""""^^  ""^t 
-areluctanceto'^mmLneLel??'""'   "°"^"'  *''-- 

"u^trarss-fctT"  ""^'^  -'^•" 

one  cannot  go  onTsome  h"  f  P°'"*  ^^^  ^hich 
de  Bohun  as  In  examl  gUe  "^  t"'  ?'^«  ^mmy 
held  by  no  scruples.  pSdS  or  n  '  '"'^"">-  ^^e  is 
treats  marriage,  theref^e  In  n  P'^^"n«Ptions.  She 
tries  first  the  oidfnarv  :;nditronT''"-"'^'^^y-  ^^e 
■on-the  one  I'm  t^inTni"  °^ T'^^^^  ^'^P^ra- 
■ndifferently  good  results^  Thin" he  ev'' ■'"^^*^  ^'"^ 
what  IS  commonly  called  semr^C  *T"'"^'«  ^^''h 
unsatisfactory.     Then  she  trkf""'  T"'  ''^^""s  still 


L«  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


what  I  call  the  TCe  of  ron^"*,'    "  y°"  ^'^^n^  that 
final  one-"  ^^    °^  conjugal  co-operation  is  the 

n.Zor1;s?"^'  '°'-  ^'^°'''^'^-    I  did  think  that- 

b  Ja^eS  °?X  ^iSTt  rnT  "^"^-^^  '»  "«- 

"I  often  wondeT-siM  M,t    1^     ■"•r"''"«""»«" 

"how  much  of  what  vou  III  •    T"'''  *oughtfully, 

much  practical."  ^      ^^  '"  theoretical  and  how 

"That  is,  whether  or  not  I  havp  ♦!,„ 

^npw  if  P'^^IS  2x;^ri^°^;l'lP"^'''-    Vou  wanf  £ 

"^^hlsVot'-'-i  tr  •^^^  .\»«'>*  ^°  -k-" 

like  to  talk  to  you^ml      V  "^^'  ^  *""■     ^nd  I 
Vou  can  be  syni^Pathe^  wZut  Cerir  °'"r''"'«'- 
receive  confidences  without  SvhiV.^^'  ^r"*^  ^^^  =^« 
can't  be  the  one.  and  Ha^^can^  ST  ♦^^'  l^^^ 
'  ~Lf  ?tl°  "^  ^-^°  fece Xou*"^^-     ^  "'^ 
ing  Ple::^*  '?S  re":;"  "If  ''^^-  ^-^-''  '-k- 
husband   better-that   taker'tirr""  ^""J  *^°^  y°«r 
firidthatheistheEt^onfidiT''  ^°"  '^— yo«'« 
has*2^Jany^:[^f  .^^^'i^e  with  Harry.     Only  he 
dangerous.     Latteriy  whL  l^^  ^""^^^^^tion  with  him 
all  the  time  as  if  I  weS^^t^?  7  ^""^  ^1°""  ^'^«  ^«" 
July.      I'm   always   n™,    1    ?'^  °"  ^'^^  ^""rth  of 
plode."  ^     nervous    lest  something  will  ex- 

i.  'hSruir?.' '"  ^""^  ^°"^^^"  I'o-  much  of  that 
"And  how  much  is  mine?    Ya..  mother  dear.  I  have 
239 


!-«■  No.  Man    p„,  Asunder 

he  ^Trried'rerS  ^dT^t  i'"^^i'*-  '^-e 
In.  not  unreasonable,  mother  ii^T  .°"'^*^"  °^  W». 
Jve  jn  that  old,  mouldCg  house  il,  S  T^  ^  «°  ^'^ 
you  fancy  me  there?  And  thS.K'  /'?>''"''«* ^  Can 
}ng  his  own  livingl  If  I  hS^f  i  !?  ^°"^ *'^"' '«"'- 
I  shouldn't  have  teken  him  A^f  ^""^^  ^°'  ^^o 
•nany  other  things     At  t,  v  ^- ''^'"  '''■"  ^"^  «» 

«^nt.ng  to  Saltonstall  BrowL  ZT"'"  ^  '''""^  "^^ 
and  two  or  three  other  mTto  co,^^  ^^f""""  ^««"et 
now  and  November  BuT  I  .»  v  /"^  *^^  "*  '^t'^een 
to  be  here."  ""*  i  can  t  do  at  if  Harry  is„'t 

belonSgtirfoL^li-^^^-  there  isn't  a  man 

office  in  State  4e:tfX^/°fJf,''"n«elfupinamu% 
pains.  'The  Office 'he  caUsT  ''.T ''°""«  ^°^  »y 
god  he  served  "  "^  '*'  **  '^  '*  were  a  sort  of 

cui^Z^""^^  '"^^  ""-  '^-•^nds  to  have  some  oc- 

"vo'^Thot"hY;r„rr:'jf"*  ^^  -«''  <■<>  "" 

y°,l'/-J^ouhlveCndrmrn'^^'"^  '  ''''"'^""'  ^"* 
butlhavefound-!"^  «narrying  a  supplementary  self- 

^'^^^ifC^^^^^^^  Vouwili 

Five  what,  mamma?    n^  r 

"«mage  isn  t  a  comedy,  my  dear  " 
240 


•Oh, 


'Ct  Not  Man  Put  A 

'^yes,  it  is;  a  high  comedy; 


sund 


er 


of  jnind.'-'  "  "'  "  "'8"  -"""edy;  a  comedy  of  states 

there  must  h;ve  bee^'p^^^.^^^  IT*'''-  "^ere  has  been  love 

euAXn^lf  ^nSl^th^^V'  -^'  ^-  I'an- 
last  word  with  you  when  v-  ■  °^^  "  ^''^^y"  the 

perhaps  tl^at's  l^ause  it's  Ihe  ffrS  °'  Tf^'^^^'  ^»' 

That  isn't  so,"  said   p",  .  "^^''^ouffht." 
"Love  in  «  life  such  as  f  m^n?:i  '^^■?^  ""^  head, 
thread  m  a  brocade.    It  X  '  ,  ^^'^ '^  *«  'he  silver 

you  can  have  the  brocade  whtit""?;^  beauty,  but 
It  seems  to  me  that  the  iJss  wl;/"''' °" 'he  whole. 
Piness.  If  that  seems  crul  lluU  ^^^'^  ">«  hap-' 
the  more  lightly  love  is  in?;,v^  J'^- ""'  "  thus:  that 
prospect  there  is  of  iL'LS?"'i^  '"*"  '"^  'he  more 
clmed  to  think  it  an  imSani  fv"  ""'  "^'^y  «>  m! 

a^ thS-T  ''''  -  ^-^2  "  "  :«  toTe^r 
I'Yes?    And  then?" 
.  Well,  I  was  thinking  of  Mr  r  ^u 
«e«ng  a  good  deal  of  h^„  "*^'-  ^^'""«e-    We've  been 
1  el]  me  about  him     h^  u 
"There's  an  insSlTce  "here'th'e  f^^  J"*--'«l  »-" 
?ne  side  and  not  on  the  other     AnVfT'^  ^^  ^""^^^l  on 
IS  misery."  °"'^'-     ^"'^  the  result,  of  course 

"Poor  fellow!     Doe«in'f  i,„      i 
"  Yes-in  a  way     Rm,  ^^  ^!  °^^  "?" 
there."  ""^-     ^"^  °- 1-ines  that  it  is  always 

"AhorScUure'Sht"'/  ^'l'"'^'  ^-  -^d?" 
from  a  dif tance?buTin^i^t;T£'^^^^      -P«-lly 
commonplace.     One  can^  S„      ^^^  common  and 

241  "='^' 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

m'^T^"  ^°"  V  '^y  "K*  *■»  wrt  of  thing  will  t» 

h.v.  known'^wrU's^f^r^'h^-n-,*'"'  ""o^  I 
most  unworthy  obiects     iZ.  ;.  .      *°  ""  ♦''« 

Z^aiZ     f  ".^,?  '*'  °"«'  """  ""''  almost  out  at  the 
other  side  and  it  has  seemed  to  me  such  a  sIii)ht«L„ 
-a  comedy,  as  we  said  just  now-"  *'''  """"^ 

In  passions." 

looWnTup^t 'ir  *""  """^'"  ^"-  ^--'  asked. 
;;Most  certainly  I  have;  and  I  do.    But-" 
inen  the  end  is  not  yet  " 

it  arSifL  fa^S'""*-  ^"* '  -"^  -y-'''  - 

ca^J^nd^  sTS  SdTht*'  ^•^^"'^'  -'''  ^^-  ^-uil 

huS:rtKr£^rMotriK-s°^,-r 

^ '^K 'r.f  towards  her  steJmoZ    '"      ^"'""^^ 

sheia*S.tl?:^:^L^r*'"'  "'^  """"  ^*  ^-'" 
Nonsense,  my  dear  child  " 

"Then  what  is  it?    You  seem  thin  and  white.    You're 
242 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 


I've  noticed  it  ever  since  I  re- 


a  little  depressed,  too 
turned. " 

dering  Lriiini^i'"™"'  f -tly  away,  won- 

Physicians  had  flready  i^°Xi    '\'^''  '^'  ""^ 
upon  her.  ^  '^    "*  "^^"  sentence  of  death 


CHAPTER  II 

visa  gave^t"r„If  ""?"•  *°  ^°^*°"  Lady  de  Bohun's 

lunches  and   dinners   rndifr'*"''^''^' ^°  ^^e  gave 
thing  of  her  araWtion  w.f   afternoon   parties.     Some- 
stepped  aside  7  let  h^f  t^t  ,t?'   "'f''^  ^'''*^^ 
Boston  with  a  natrint',  i  ^^^J^^f  ^^d.     Loving  her 
its  greatness     ghl  wal  noT'nf '  '"'''^'^  '"^^"^^  in 
thusiastic.     She  liJ^ed^fh  "       T,"""'  ^^^  *««  ""ly  en- 
of  Paris;  the  dlSlf  vr°^^T''°"' ^'^^ ''riUiancy 
New  York  •  thequa  nTn^l     \^uV  ?^  ^^'-^nuousness  of 
of  Baltimore     IJ.ftSTh'.f^'"'^''"^'^'*'^'  ^h^mdolence 
lies  she  found  S  Boin   111^  ^.1,'"  ^"  '^"^  "l"^"- 
Rngland  bom.     pZZ'sI^^^^'^'^''^^^'^'^^^ 
spiritual;   her  ignomnt     '"™^*>°"s  were  in  things 

strength  lavTntEl        ^I  "}   *•>'"&«   """^l;   h!r 
ful,  the  tS^/the  pTas^  th^'  '""T'  '"  '""^  ^-- 
what  some  would  can  Th'^' •        S^'^'^  P^^^'ng'  and 
notagreatami^lieTh'     "f  "■^^'  «»^^«^°^«' 
In  the  Boston  of  her  bSh  a^d  fo    "I*""  ^^'  ""*  ^^t' 
of  power  wedded  tn  rU      ^"V"""^  ^he  saw  possibilities 
gayety.     orfhte  ^^^i^^fo      '"^'""^^"'^^  ^oing  with 
I;ady  Holland  oTtrMad^^r  ^f  s^t£  ^  ''^^ 
old%:gXrbf  mr^r''^  ^^^"^  th^iun^fan^dr 
by  putting  ^embrSX-rr*^^  "'*  *^  «'"^'^' 
at  table  with  IS  '  lil     ^''"^  ""'"  ^'"^^  ''^  «'de 
to   dinner   anywhe^  ^hl  Tf  "°'  """^  ^^^ed 

anywnere.     She   expended   much   thought 
244 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
mT^  '"dividual  Cs^u'^CsTi'  '^''t'y  ^^^ 

famhes,  whose  entertainfng  was  rfi   ^/"-^^^blished 
had  sonae  claims  of  kinsCp     iLTJ°  *''°^^  ^^o 
than  one  yo.mg  miss  in  havinf  h  ^f  ?  °'^^"'^^  '°  ™o>-e 
by  a  married  man.     Udie3        ff ''^^  °"'  ^  dinner 
«ea«,n  felt  themselves  hu^iSefTn^''"'"  ""  '''"^  ^^^t 
at  the  same  board  with  fJ^i     ^    '"  ^^"^S  asked  to  sit 
-xth--or  who  had::a^eitrep°th:"  '"^^^  fi"** - 
,<hen  ,t  was  evident  that  some  !fnl     T"? *"     ^°^  «nd 
out  of  his  set"  was  as  m^h  at  «1  ""^ "  ^"""'^  hi'"^^" 
[erred  from  his  own  ant-WH  to  «n  /k'"  ^'\^"  ^"*  *«««- 
hiUe  difficulties  whi"h    Kna    h  ^   i"  ^^ese  were 
patience  and  tact  to  overcome     Rvru  *.^    ^'""^   «nd 
herself  beginning  to  succeeranH^  i,^""*™^^  «he  felt 
Year,  she  should  have  her  mn^^  ^^°'  ^"'^  ^^^  New 
begm operations o„ai:rg:rscair"'°°"'  ^^^  ™^"t  *» 

abro^^Cd^X^^XS^^f^-^-^^^  Triumph 
all  her  efforts  VaSS  with  aT''  "'  '^°'"^-  «" 
he  cared  less  and  less  to  cScS  ^disapproval  which 
was  utterly  different  from  a^' h  J  u^"*^""^' °f  We 
they  should  lead.  From  Ws  ^fnf  f  ^^^  '"^«"t  that 
t  .r^P'^"-«.  and  exl^n^^;  "5  ^^  ■'  was  frivcv 
that;itwasworldlv  Dretpnf;  ,      ^^^  worse  than 

with  serious  viewf^f'' ht  'ffif-r^  """"'■'hyof  peo^e 
play  the  host  to  a  troop  of  SrLT^'°l  ""'^"^  bin,  to 
see  come  within  his  Zrs  AnH  *  T?""  ^^  ^^^  <° 
doors!    The  fact  thaTaH  this  h^     "f^  ^"''^  "»' his 

w.th  money  to  which  he  had  bLr'"'^i"^  ^«^  ^''^en 
naa  but  a  secondary  claim,  and 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

in  a  house  of  which  he  was  the  master  only  by  raarria« 
was  one  which  he  found  eallin?     T»./v«„~  ?*' 

ture  was,  to  his  thrifty  NeT^nllan^miTobS" 

called  display,  were  more  ob  ecUonable  stiU-  while 
he  lack  o  privacy,  the  sense  of  never  having  th^  h^use 
to  Oiemselves,  was  most  objectionable  of  111.  E 
he  came  home  tired  from  the  office,  there  was  not^ 
half-hour  s  repose  before  dressing  to  go  with  pXina  to 

foThoi  'T  """'"  '*°"^^'  °'  *°  -"ake  UmseU  agre^bk 
to  those  who  were  coming  to  dine  at  theirs 

Are  we  never  going  to  have  an  evenini?  alone  to- 
gether again?"  he  a<ik«l  ^uu  „  »='""»  aione  to- 
D»«  •  "»""';,  "^  asKea,  with  a  weary  smile  when 
Petnna  consulted  hiii  as  to  whom  to  ask  with  ^s  TouT 
ins,  the  Peabody  Pepperells 

noL'S^i/"'"  ^'^  ^'  "°^  ''"'"^  ^-  ^^  ^--  her 
"To  see  each  other,  to  talk.    I  thought  too"  he 
suggested,  almost  timidly,  "that  by-and-by  we  ^igW 
take  up  some  reading  aloud  "  ^ 

in  another  tone.  "Don't  yt  'think  w°^iSu°de 
tte  Ripley  Brownes?  They've  asked  us  twice  and 
we  ve  never  invited  them  at  all     I  shall  nntho^'  ^ 

"ifeh*"^'-.?'^  "^-  iySietngrg?' 

"He's  mZ  r'    ^^'"^P  *^°"^»'''  ^«  he  wfnt  out. 

„.,.      ^     ?^^'^*'"P^™"S  t*^  the  spirits  than  rain  to 

^r^li:^'  '^~"'^'  -  ^•^^  io^ed  down  nTmL° 

"I  think  of  asking  a  few  people  to  inaugurate  the 

sre-christj-^'^  '^^•^' -"  ^^^  -'  ^°  ^- 

„ n^  ^,  Sunday  night,"  he  objected. 
People  don't  mind  that,  you  know." 
246 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
"But  I  do." 
ii"*u**."u'/''",*'°^'*'  ^"y-    Haven't  we  talked  over 
et  me  have  things  my  own  way.    Be,sides,  I  shall  ask 

h^rsSs^lV"'  ""^^'=^'  °"^^-^"  -^^"^  ^"^ '"' 

obi^aS."^''^  '°  •"  ^"^'^'  y°"  •»-'"  V-sall 
areTXoSV'^""'''''^^^*''^"^^"^-    "^utwhere 

thl7o'*^r  ^""^  '^''''^T?"?  °"  *•=  twenty-sixth  to  aitend 

wIk!^^'?,'^""  ^"""^  ^^°™-  I  «n  hardly  be 
back  before  Monday  at  the  eariiest  " 

"  I  am  sorry  for  that,"  said  Petrina.     "  But  then  vou 

raS:;Sh;  ^'  ''''-^''  ^^  ^-^^--^ 

^JTf"f'i  'l*^'  P^^'^  "^  ^-w  people  "^he^on" 
nS^,^1r  '''•?°'*1!?'  ^•>°'  *°  Mrs.'^ssall's^l.^;, 
Ell? Cho/*f  1°  P°«^'«^«ki  they  added  Mad^ 
moiselle  Chosette,  whose  songs  were  of  the  school  of 

^s  rr  i  M  !,"',  ^"^''^*'  "^'«  ^  ^^^'l  -tSon 
r.  «iw        ^«*l"lena'  who  would  give  examples  of 

triLi.^i'"^  \'*  °^  ^P^'*^-  "  ^^«  t°  be  nothing,  P^ 
tnna  said,  as  she  scattered  her  verbal  invitations  f;ery- 

.^  «„;  li"!.  ^^^^  P~P*^'"  "°^*  informally,  coming 
in  any  kind  of  costume  they  chose.    On  a  Sunday 

it'Slil^r^Sr.^'-'^^'''  ''''  ^^^"^"^  «»-' 

at  fiiT"  Vr  P~P^-°°'/  a  few  more  than  I  intended 
at  first,  Petnna  explained  to  VassaU,  when,  by  dint  of 
hunying,  he  amved  late  on  Sunday  aftem^^  A 
Petr,^^^  ^^  of  Chicago  he  tliought  more  tend-erly  of 
Petnna  s  way  of  hfe,  and  if  she  really  needed  him  for 
^7 


L«  No,  M.„  P„,  A,„„d„ 

to  bnng  Mrs.  Hany  Vasil?!  n!"  ^•''"^  «  «"'=cess 
into  the  papers,  and  to  makfeverv  "'  '"  ^'^^  P^nt 
inilW-s  giri  turn  to  Jk  St^^fr^"'  ^^  «"d 
in  the  street.  Private  even  s  fo?,.  k7  P^'^^^  ^er 
America,  as  they  do  not  in  tl  i  ^""^^"^  *°Pics  in 
and  U.e  reports  carried  oubfpi?'  ""*'  "^"^^  *°^W. 
a  fand  which  the  American  press  Inf'  ^^'^^  ^««  ° 
From  his  absence   fi,»  i  .      ^  excellent  "codv  " 

Vassal!  had  re  S  t  ti^K  "?1  *«^  "^Sage 
*e  invited  poured  :^  S^^f^^'  iS!'  "'  '°^''-  As' 
the  fifty  a  hundred  and  the  hundr«1  /^f"  ^^'^  and 
more,  he  received  them  courtS'^  '"'  '*"«'^^«'  and 
Pnse.  He  thanked  PotteSrW^;,"'"'?'^"^  his  sur- 
liked,  with  as  much  effuSs  h.^^"  u  P'^^"^  he  dis- 
did  not  stand  aghast  „n«I  wi^  '^""''^  command,  and 
whimsically  featured   .^^^'h^^^'-^'seUe  Chosette,  a 

dressed  in  green,  stood,  ?bvS  "^  ^'^'  ^^^^ 

voice,  but  with  distinct  enuncjl"'^""'  «"<i'  «  a  hoarse 
methods  in  which  a  you^  wor^°"'  ^"^r  of  the  various 
tieman.  ^  ™«  "'""^n  may  address  a  gen 

-th  hands  folded  Ld"e?:st/wn"«1t"''  ^^  ^^^  «^ 

"?E'artt?„Stl5^°-^- 
perell.  '  y°«'     <=««ed  young  Peabody  Pe,^ 

of  SmtY:Pa'rir  ^"^-^  «-*"«'<  who  sp«,t  most 
248 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

with  her  fan.  "To  think  thL'^^r'"'."  °"  *«  a™ 
ask  us  to  come  and  hstS  to^l  r^  °/.t"  ""«  *»"« 
know  you  cried  'Shame 'on  *^  ^'  °^  ^\* '  ^""^  y°» 
just  because  we  had  che^LTnH  K^^-"i?'"'^^P«°n«' 
touche  is  always  ?he  S  H  "\  u"^  Sainte  Ni- 
refrain  is,  '  D^.  ZJZ  ^°^.  "hatching  that  little 
sieurr-  ''  '^-  "^^^rl    Dttes.  done.  rJl 

"Dites,  done,  monsieur  I     Dite,    rf™.„ 
people  were  humnune  Xrm.nTl"'         .:  ""^^^rl" 
Somerset  turned"?     But  vf      n  ^'•,^"-  ^""^^^^ 
with  every  one     None  h.  .  T  l^",!""'^'  and  talked 

hadtntT„c'e^„t'tTp^tf^"f '.--^  C'^-tte 
and  scrambled  agaTn'uD  andl  /u''",''^''  '<^'atched 
the  guests  had  S  and  d™"^"  the  key-board,  and 
Emmy,  before  i^-^^  for  cS/"'^>i«'*«J'  and 
trina  and  declared  thit  she  d^I'^t^"'  ^i  ^"^"^  ^^ 
spent  such  a  plea^t  sIh  ^^T  "^^^  «he  had 
into  the  librar?  «,Tflunt  K-^  u^^^'  ^^^"  went 
the  large  leaSL  "hafrs^  '"'"^"  "^'^  »*»  °-  "f 

she'!fme"t'a'idrun?f  °',1""  ^^«-  -'<«'.  as 
flushed  and  her  eye  twn^-  ^''t  "^  '^''^^  was 
ment.  ^    Hashmg  with  pleasure  and  excite- 

"I  thought  it  was  an  outracrp  "  u^       i*      ,  . 
voice.  outrage,    he  muttered  in  a  low 

"You  said—?" 

app^"h%frthJrmlet;'*.  ^'^t    ^"^^  ^^"  *»>« 
obliged  toholdhlroj'"'  '"  "^^'^^  ^^^  should  be 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
an  outrage  on  mf"       ^        ^"***''  "  *««  ""^t  of  aU 

have  lost  the  habit  of  ^SnXll  ^^  "***  y°" 
speak  to  his  wife.  I  sS^LZJ^^  •""/  ™«''  "^ould 
night."  ^sna"  remember  It  in  future.    Good- 

'^fcn'^"'  ™!^'-  T*^  ''^  confronted  her. 

tionr  he  asked      Hi?  ""^^  *°  ''""^  «»"«  ^P^^na- 

"Of  wLt?"         ""  ''"''*'°"  ^'«'1«1  «ke  aK. 

^.■'01  the  way  we  live.    Of  the  way  we  are  going  to 

so/nKs^"*"^^*'^"  '"  «  "«"-  "'  'ndifference  to  me 
"So  long  as  what?" 

c^ZZ^^^^^'.?^^->^onsiorn..    How 
apli  t7ou'r  "'^'  ''^*^'  '^°  y-  -«»>  -  to  live 

ca;i'^^iiSyTs*;rs^*^r°"'"^-  ^- 

to  live  in  this  housi^"  ^  ^  '°"«  ««  y°"  <=hoose 

"Ishallhaveloruleit/'heinterruDted     "«^i 
I  choose  to  live  in  this  ho„.»  t  n  '       ^  '"'*«  ^ 

250 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

mernbered."  ^  "*^'  °"^  ""««  should  be  re- 

"  And  that  thing  is—?" 

She  raised  her  eyebrows,  but  did  not  sneak 

hec^ntu!d^\\rt£\tr;^^^^^^^^ 

in  which  we  ive     1 1^!  £11"^^''°"^^  "^  ^^  »«>;, 
Head.    You  follow     i-"^-    ^ou  are  the  second. 

I«rs:^^:hr^-J^"^-eloquence,Harry.     I 

not  now  begin  to£^ButTsK  ft"?^''  ^"^  «»>«« 

tion.   Why  did  you  c^ie  ^i  *  v     «''  ^'^^  *°  ^^'^  «  <!"«- 

"Because  I  Z^you^^.'^^l'''^°^^~-osoonr' 

be  away."  ^    '  ^""  ^'^^  *"ne  seemed  long  to 

"l^V.Z^^:i^.f^^'-    "Andlwouldbeg^. 

.enti;.'^t^„X'C;:u?1ai*'  ^"  ''^''-  *"  -^  " 
own,"  she  went  on  f  e^  sCy^^"?  nuchas  for  my 

go  aw^y  it  may  be-toTJyTwaV  "        "''"="  "^'^^  y°" 

"I  w!nr'4C.a  '^"^  "-  "^^'^^^  -i<i  at  last. 

happened  they  mustXtL^  ThTv^^"'  *  T"*^^^^ 
passions  within  the  lim^t^  f  ™Y  ™"st  keep  their 
express  themseU  wiKle  h7^^'  ^^^^^  ™"'d 
recrimination.  ^'  b"*^  ^^^^  ^ust  be  no 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
He  rang  the  bell. 

Then  shall  we  say  Good-night 7" 

fro«rJ^"^'^^-^'>-^-    Hekis^edherandtu^ed 
'•^^^o:;;^-li;£^^«elfashewe„tout. 


CHAPTER  in 

band  sfarring  i„  the  adSiSnl  '^^"^ '°  ''^^  her  hus- 
very  gracious  to  him  when  jf/""™-  .  ^^e  meant  to  be 
unfand  to  her;  he  was^^'T'  '\  "^  ^ad  been 
Puntan  "arrow  -  minded^ss  a^„ J''  ""^^^P^  *"h  his 
she  would  forgive  him  «5^  l^  unsocial  ways;  but 
w:th  pillows  Ji  ^il'^W^^'^:  P-PPed  he4lf  up 
When  he  entered  his  face  w«f^    ^  "  ^""'«- 

''^/  ct%t:r^iH-a^Vi?sh^^j--,^^„. 

d|ly':^''^""'^"'^"-butPetri„adid„otWhow 
hea/l^;::?"'"^^'  W™ ''  «he  thought  again,  "but  I  can 

^^Hehad  been  wounded;  butPetrinadidnotWhow 

necessarj.  plans.  If  he  w3  ^^at  seemed  to  him  the 
resulting  like  that  of  HumpW  J!  tu""^"^^^^  fr"™ 
must  stand  at  the  helm  TSZ  ul^^J"}'  ^e  himself 
course  He  blamed  hmLuLi  ^^^  ^'"^  '' '"  i^s 
tnna  too  much  of  her  own  wav     ^f"^  ^""^^^  Pe- 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

thing  above  all  was  certain-he  would  not  remain  in  a 
posiUon  from  which  she  could  ask  him  to  go.  If  thev 
were  to  have  any  life  together  it  should  be  on  his  ground 
and  never  agam  on  hers. 

"  wJ"L'"l'  ^,*'«,'^"«J'  when  she  heard  him  knock, 
laz  "'         ^^'^^'^  at  me  for  not  being  up.    I'm  very 

H^u  '!!J1*"'^.?^'**  ''""*•  *°''ards  him  with  a  smile. 
He  tossed  It  coldly,  and  withdrew  to  a  little  distance. 

,     .  *""^,/°"   '°*'^'"   ^^'e  remarked.     "Haven't 
you  slept  well?"  *««voi  i 

"Not  very  well." 

aITm''^  because  ybu  went  to  bed  in  a  bad  temper. 
Anuable  people  always  sleep.  No,  no;  don't  raTse 
Uiat  curtem,    she  cned,  as  he  walked  towards  a  win- 

n^'  Tv,"  not  'eady  yet  for  the  fierce  light  that  beats 
upon  a  throne. 

"I  want  to  say  something  before  I  go  out,"  he  said 
coming  back  towards  the  bed  again. 

♦I,  "  Si^  ""-T^  *"''  ^^  "  ^^'^-  Sit  down  on  the  side  of 
me  bed.    There;  now  we  can  talk." 

She  knew  he  was  going  to  apologize,  and  so  was  pre- 
P^f /?,  Ff[don.  As  he  looked  at  her  his  courage  al- 
most failed  him,  but  he  nerved  himself  to  go  on 

I  want  to  say  something  before  I  go  out,"  he  re- 

pC&t6u. 

^^•Say  on,"  she  consented,  letting  her  hand  rest  on 

"You  asked  me  last  night  to  stay  away  when  next  I 
go  away. 

delr1^^'^^°"  """  *  ^°'"^  *°  ^^^  *^*  *°  ^^^'  "*"y 

There  was  something  frightened  in  her  tone,  though 
she  continued  to  smile  at  him. 
"Could  I  do  otherwise  than  take  it  to  heart?   Words 
254 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

like  that,  dearest,  can  never  be  forgotten  or  explained 
away."  "^ 

1^ But  you  know  I  didn't  mean  them." 
"I  think  you  did  for  the  moment,  though  now  you 
may  be  willing  to  take  them  back  and  let  me  stay." 
I  am  willing,  Harry." 
"Thank you,  dear." 
"I  want  you  to  stay." 

"That's  because  you  are  patient  with  me.  But  you 
know  a  moment  may  come  when  the  words  which  are 
now  withdrawn  may  be  repeated." 
»v  **"  **  .can  talk  about  it  then.  We  can  wait—" 
No,  Petrina.  That  is  precisely  what  we  cannot  do. 
I.  at  least,  cannot  permit  it  to  be  possible  that  such 
words  should  be  said  again." 

"You're  very  disagreeable,"  she  complained,  with- 
drawing her  hand.     "I  don't  know  what  you  mean 
You  made  me  angry  last  night,  and  so  I  spoke.    If  you 
would  only  try  to  please  me  more  you  would  not  bring 
such  things  upon  yourself.    As  it  is,  I  am  willing  to 
overlook  your  attitude  of  hostiUty  to  me,  and  let  the 
past  be  past.    We  can  begin  again." 
"ExacUy,  Petrina.    We  must  begin  again,  but  un- 
„      .*  conditions  and  on  other  grounds." 
"It  isn't  the  grounds  and  conditions  that  need  to 
be  changed,  Harry  dear;  it's  you.     If  you  wouldn't 
always  be  to  me  what  water  is  to  fir©—" 

"I  didn't  come  to  discuss,  Petrina,  my  darling  "  he 
said,  very  genUy.    "  I  came  to  tell  you  my  plans  '  The 
time  IS  past  for  talking.    I  must  act. " 
"Go  on.    I  am  listening." 

"I  have  decided  that  we  had  better  leave  this  house 
and  go  to  mine.     That  is  where  we  belong  and  where 
we  shall  both  be  in  our  proper  places." 
"You  know  my  feeling  about  thai" 
255 


Let   Not    Man   Put  Asunder 

«I^k"11,''  '  *""'  conaidered  it.     I  sec  nothing  to  be 
^«ned  by  domg  so  any  longer.    The  life  I  have  to  lead 

«m.  If  r'."'*!!'  T'^  ."'\"°"'  «"«*  "how  and  waste  of 
Ume  of  that  which  we've  been  leading  " 

^^  You  have  indicated  it  sufficiently  by  your  man- 

"You're  very  young,  Petrina,  and  I  shouldn't  be  do- 
ing my  duty  towards  you  if  I  didS't  show  you  tLt  you 

are  oTdt-"  '"""*''''•     "^°"  *'"  "'«"'*  »«  ^^en  you 

vouflauT-lZ''''"*'  ^  *"*'"  "•"=  "''"'  "'*  «  ««- 
vous  laugh,     I  beg  you  to  spare  your  pains. " 

"^h°l  ^^  y°"  °"*  °f  «  "'*'"  he  went  on,  steadily 
wS^  whiT"''  *  "'*'T,  •*'•  ^y  f""'"^  "^n".  and 
Therefore  I  intend  to  live  in  Cambridge  " 

And  may  I  ask  when?    Or  is  it  enough  for  me  to 
wait  until  you  give  the  word  to  go?" 

nI^S°1",^  ^-^^y-  ^"^  ^  '«^«  *e  °ffi«  this  after- 
noon, I  shall  join  you  there." 

"But  it  isn't  possible." 

"Our  rooms  are  ready.     The  house  is  ours.     You 

W  jiothing  to  do  but  give  your  maid  the  necessary 

rZllJ^'!-  ^"^^l"''  "^'^'"  ^^^  '«P«'ed,  in  a  tone  of 
consternation.      You  must  be  crazy  to  think  of  it  at  all.  " 

Nothing  IS  possible  but  that  " 
nuhJ^rJ'^u^  Mrs.  Vassall  say  to  have  us  descend 
cmher  hke  that,  with  Emmy  and  Hippolyta  already 

"My  mottier  is  always  prepared  for  us.     She  is  only 

KuLafi^istsT"*""'  ''''  -•>-  -"  --  ">-• 

saldi'TXtXti^T^^"'^''-'^"'*--  ^-- 

256 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
home?"  -^  ""'    ""'  f"s  house  our 

again."  *    '  "  '^■'*  "-^t"    ■!•  •nine 

'•But  I've  already  told  you  that  I  dun      .  ,e.,.,_  ■ 
You  can't  take  back  such  worrit    . 
you  may  regret  them.    I  mv  se^  ',h  ,"  ; '"  '^"^  '' 
■poken  hastily,  but  mv  own  ^if  "'   '"••^'   *"^' 

toactuponthem     Ic^n'tTomfKTr^  '"■"'^•■'  '"«' 
We  mustgo  to  Cambridge  '''  ^^"^  ^"''  ^«'^"''  'J"" 

"lT°."lu  "°*  ?'y  unreasonable,  but  crueJ    r  ,rr.  " 

Its  the  cruelty  of  circumstances     It  ?w*^^-.. 

You  combine  the  foil,,  „f       P-,.-  .  '*  '*"  t  mine." 

of  a  man."  ^""^  "^  *  ^'>''<1  »'ith  the  brutality 

""A^omg  so  would  be  very  grave  ''  ^  ^°"'' 

Piiwfanl  Jute  t^irst-St'^h"  ^r  •■"  «'•' 
ill-treated  and  to  blame  4i,»  ^«"  herself  at  once 
the  previous  night  but  it  lt>  ""^"^  ^"  ^°'^'  "^ 
not  to  let  her  take  them  back      '"°"'''°"'  °"  '''«  ^^ 

-.v«i.  Htherr.^?L-r:-^itrp^ 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

haps,  drag  herself  to  Cambridge;  and  yet  she  felt  that 
hia  insistence  upon  it  would  be  an  outrage 

iht^J^^  ^7  r""!  °?  **  conviction  grew  upon  her 
that  he  must  relent.  It  was  so  unlike  him  to  hold  out 
in  anger  agamst  herl  Sooner  or  later  he  had  always 
come  to  throw  himself  at  her  feet.  There  had  been 
differences  between  them  in  which  she  knew  that  he 
was  right;  and  yet  he  had  been  the  first  to  return  and 
pJead  for  her  forgiveness.  So  he  would  return  again 
she  said;  but  this  time  she  would  forestall  his  humility 
by  her  own.  •' 

Pallid,  anxious,  and  restless,  she  wandered  all  day 
from  room  to  room,  counting  the  hours  as  they  went  by 
Don  t  let  anyone  in,"  she  ordered  a  servant,  as  the 
short  wmter  afternoon  closed  down,  "unless  it  should 
be  Lady  or  Miss  de  Bohun.  Or  my  mother  or  Mrs. 
Vassall,  of  course,"  she  added.  Then  she  began  again 
to  wander  from  room  to  room,  hstening  intently  for \ ,. 
famihar  sound  of  Harry's  latch-key  at  the  door. 

The  lights  were  lit  in  the  drawing-room,  and  the  tea 
brought  in   when  Hippolyta  was  announced.     Petrina 
was  glad  of  some  one  to  divert  her  thoughts.     Besidr- 
Hippolyta  would  tell  her  if  Harry  had  sent  any  message 
as  to  their  coming  to  Cambridge. 

"Mamma  told  me  to  wait  for  her  here,"  the  girl  said 
^!i  fu^"*^'!^'  ^"l  kissed  Petrina.  Hippolyta  looked 
older  than  when  m  England;  with  her  height,  her  dig- 
nity, and  her  repose,  she  had  the  air  of  a  woman  rathlr 
than  of  a  girl. 

,  Since  their  coming  to  America  Petrina  had  begun 
to  find  Hippolyta  a  httle  trying.  "She  is  so  ag^es- 
sively  good,"  she  had  said  to  Mrs.  Faneuil  "She  is 
hke  a  living  reproach  to  the  rest  of  us.  How  Humphrey 
and  liramy  should  have  come  by  such  a  child  passes  my 
understanding.  The  truth  is  that  she  is  a  Vassall  with 
258 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

-:  n'^tro^Ur^r  IL' 'r  "^  l^^  ^-^  «-*  they 
terrible  caprice™i„7an  F^  r^^^'T™  "^^  <="*  ^ 
land  conscience  ThlT^  English  girl  a  New  Eng- 
other.  WhrthefgoTir ""'  l"°"«^  *'^'»°"t  the 
fused  not  only  w'fh  Pi/X  T".*^^^  S'^n^^  '"- 
but  with  Englih  i^nifJtras":  r^^^ 

^^r-Sr--Hip.,^enter. 

the  Quinc?Br2ir"^?be  "^'^^  '^^^  ^"^^  ^°-  -  *» 
forhe^as^heyPt  g,^!:iS^^^^^^  --  ^- 

of  "hiTo^^^  I'vf  irit*  "r^n^  -^-^  -^>>^^ 

that  VassaU  had  Tot    nfoS  hfs'-     ^V^^S^'^ent 
case  he  could  only  m^Ti^fi  his  mother.     I„  that 

As  she  poured  ourHTp^yte's  trp".  ^""^P  ^^^*- 
Wright  were  lifted  fromC  h^rt    '  "''  ''"  ^^  '^  ^ 

hf  :t;trv^r^„te^Hat^  f  ^thhigs  i„  Cam- 
salver.  """  a  card  on  a  silver 

askStmX"^  '  "''  "°*  ^"^•^'"^'  ^-ks  ?"  Petrina 
"y„  >      "11, 

he  knfw™;..? irhL'^?""''  "•'"*  *^  ^^""^'"an  said 

^;jWhy.  it's  your  fatner/' Petrina  cried,  as  she  took  the 

he'STn'?£S''  "'^'^'^'^ '-''^^^-     "^thought 

va;?|:L?iLS^^-;^tr-^^  to  these. 
"But  mother  will  comp  ■    ,,   ' J^ter. 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asund 


cr 


It  would  upset  her. 


like  to  meet  him  without  wamine 
What  shall  we  do?" 

back  "^41/!?'°"^''  ?^^  "■"""'"  P«««*  *hi«P«ed 
together.'^  """*  *'"'  ^*  "*"  '*°°'  ^-^  «='»°«i« 

ffippolyta  parted  the  portJftres  and  passed  into  the 
next  room  just  as  her  father  entered       »"""«'""' 

sav^^VnTr*"' r'"'  ""S'Ph'-^y '"  the  girl  heard  Petrina 

T  H^H„'»  t^      ^^^"^    ^•'y-  y°"  t^''^  '°y  breath  away 
1  djdn  t  know  you  were  there. " 

Hippolyta  paused  behind  the  hangings.    She  knew 

^f^A^f  ^^^''}'^'  ^  ^"''*'«"  f«^  held  her  s^uluiS^ 

j«J  ?.T    /^^  '"  ""y  "^'"^'"  Gentian  said,  in  her 

some'TJ/^  ^'^'^  *°  "^  ^*'"  '^*-    ^"  ''"^  ^"'J  h«^« 

st^tS  '*'™'^  ''^  ^''  **"*  "*^  ""*"*  '^'°^«* 
"What's  the  matter  with  you  two?"  Petrina  asked 
looking  up  at  them  curiously.  "Humphr^?  yS^ 
smihng  and  bbshmg  Hke  a  big  boy.  Wiat  hkv^  Jou 
beendomg?    Why  aren't  you  in  Chicago?" 

Because  this  little  woman  brought  me  back  "  he 
answered  turmng  awkwardly  towards  Gentian 
I    /Yn«tl'"le  woman?    Do  sit  down,  Gentian.    You 

i^f  fV^%t^.  '^^^'^-  ''*^"'*»S  there  and  looldng 
so  foolish.     What  have  you  been  up  to?" 

"Oh.    do   tell  her,   Humphrey,"    Gentian   pleaded 
slipping  behind  him  and  playfully  pushing  him  fw^: 

J^WeU,  the  fact  is."  he  began,  manfully-  "the  fact 

Jck.^^    ^*®^" P^t"n«  interposed, impatiently.     "Be 
260 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
That  we're  married  "  <?iV  h        l 

right.    It'fa  little  sudZciCn  '*i>  /t''°P«  "'«  «" 
going  to  be  happy  "  '  ^^^^n-"  but  I  trust  you're 

enfbS"  ""^"  ''^  «"-  «»-"t  Petrina,  and  the  two 
cluteMng  the  closed  p;,rriLt  ];^;Sd""   ™-ly 

/pehW^sS-ri^oH  , 

her  hand  and  kissing  h^r  ch^"^'  .}^  ^'^'  ^Wng 
nghUnthenickoftimi    Lettrtod^"^;  ^^^ 

fi  J::Gtrt!;„^'"'"  «>«  «^'  -J'^i-  with  her  eyes 

"Well,  I  mean  mv  wife"  <!,v  u 
lamely.  -^  ^^'    *»'  Humphrey  finished. 

Gentian  stood  smiling  nervously 
1  m  your  new  mother,  dear  "  sh»  ,o.-j        • 
appolyte  and  holding  out^er  hand      -'^"'"^  "^  *° 
ber  me,  don't  you?    At  Orn,.?„»      n   \      ^°"  remem- 

"Yes,  I  remLber  you,  X"  Tv"en"'%?'°">"-" 
•nechanicany,  but  „o"t  t;£g  S'tffKat."''' 


<fl^;g!l''<»'^};?»^l£l«l3l2i^Si~' 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

"I'm  your  new  mother,   dear,"   Gentian  repeated 

quailing  inwardly,  but  wearing  her  smile  undauntedly 

I  have  a  mother. 

"Yes,  dear,  but  I  come  to  bring  you  an  added  love." 

Uo  you  ttiink  we  need  you  ?    Do  you  think  we  shaU 

accept  you?" 

.i!^iL^?u  ^''"'i.^^ther's  wife,  Hippolyta,"  Gentian  in- 
sisted, the  smile  wamng  and  her  face  growing  a  little 

"I  have  called  you  Miss  Tyrell.     WiU  you  not  re- 
turn the  courtesy  by  calhng  me  Miss  de  Bohun?" 
But  in  a  family—"  Gentian  began  to  protest. 
^^  You  are  not  in  our  family.  Miss  Tyrell." 
"I  must  ask  you  to  remember,"  said  Sir  Humphrey 
to  his  daughter,     that  this  is  Lady  de  Bohun." 

other  "  '"°*^^''  '^  ^^""^  ***  ^'*""'  ^^-  '^•^^'^  '^  °° 
"Then  who  am  I?"  Gentian  cried,  ill-advisedly 
1  wonder  you  raise  that  question.  Miss  Tyrell  " 
Hippolyta  said,  scornfully;  "but  since  you  do,  it  isn't 
difficult  to  answer.  You  may  bear  some  sort  of  legal- 
ized relation  to  my  father-exactly  what,  it  would  be 
impossible  to  define;  but  you  are  not  in  any  real  sense 
of  Ae  word  his  wife.  People  will  feel  about  you,  you 
probably  feel  about  yourself,  that  you  are  the  latest 
"u^^L-  ^^^  company  of  my  father's  friends  in 
which  Miss  Hetty  Vienne  and  Miss  Lucy  Fitzalan  are 
your  predecessors  and  companions." 

''How  dare  you?"  Gentian's  voice  was  scarcely 
audible;  and  her  face  and  lips  were  white.  Sir  Hum- 
phrey and  Petrina  stood  aghast. 

r.rJ^^  '!f,""^,!f !'  ™"^'  Miss  Tyrell,"  Hippolyta  re- 
phed,  hardly  It  is  that  of  a  woman  who,  with  so  little 
to  gain,  puts  herself  in  a  position  in  which  she  never  can 
be  regarded  as  other  than  a  superior  sort  of  courtesan." 
262 


Let  Not  Man  Put   Asunder 


"am  I  to  be  subjected 


"Humphrey!"  cried  Gentian, 
to  this?" 

^^  "Only  Miss  Tyrell,"  Hippolyta  hastened  to  reply- 
only  when  you  thrust  yourself  among  people  who 
stiU  have  some  respect  for  the  sanctity  of  family  love 
and  of  domestic  purity.  There  a  woman  of  your  class 
may  expect  to  find  pity,  but  never  mercy." 
With  a  little  cry  Gentian  sank  into  a  seat. 

^..  Tfl'^    ™^    ^^^y-    Humphrey,"    she    sobbed.     "I 
didn  t  look  for  this.     I  can't  bear  it. " 

"Hippolyta,"  said  the  father,  white  to  the  lips,  and 
qmvenng  m  the  helplessness  of  his  rage,  "if  I  knew 
any  way  to  punish  you — " 

l.PJ?'./""''^^  ^""""^  *^*'  P^P^'"  she  interrupted, 
with  bitter  quietness.  "It  is  in  your  own  shame;  it  is 
in  the  dishonor  to  which  you  have  brought  us  all  That's 
my  pumshment.  Some  day  it  will  be  yours  You 
can  see  it  is  already  hers." 

"Take  me  away  I  Take  me  away,  Humphrey  I" 
moaned  Gentian.  ■' 

"No,  Gentian,"  said  Petrina,  recovering  from  the 
suddenness  of  Hippolyta's  attack,  and  coming  for- 
ward. You  are  in  my  house  and  under  my  protec- 
tion. A  great  injustice  has  been  done  you.  You  are 
Humphrey's  wife  by  everything  that  we  call  law 
Hippolyta,  you  are  a  wicked  and  malignant  giri  " 

"You  may  think  what  you  like  about  me,  Petrina  " 
Hippolyta  returned,  without  losing  her  cold  composure. 
But  you  know  in  your  own  heart  that  my  mother  is 
ray  father  s  wife,  and  that  this  lady  is-the  thing  which 
I  have  said.  Good-bye,  father,"  she  said,  in  another 
tone,  turning  towards  Sir  Humphrey.  "When  you 
have  broken  off  this  connection,  as  I  think  you  have 
broken  off  the  others,  I  will  see  you  again,  but  not  be- 
lore.     Good-bye,  Petrina." 

263 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
She  pushed  aside  the  portiAres  and  slipped  out    There 

«n^     fi!"  "^P^^y  •"«=""«  °n  °"«  side  and  Petrina 

"Have  you  seen  Hippolyta?"  Petrina  a=l,»j    j 
mg  her  sister-in^aw  intTa^,,  w^S-r^^t^'  '""" 
No.     Isn't  she  here'" 

"What  is  it?"  Lady  de  Bohun  asked,  with  an  air 
of  jmld  surpnse.     "How  mysterious  you's^m  " 
at  down.  dear.     I  must  tell  you  something  " 

a  J/f     ^^^"*  "^"'^  ■ "  ^^''y  ^'  Bohun  ask^  taking 
a  seat  and  beginning  to  unfasten  her  veil  ^ 

„  £!° '  '*.  ^,  something  very  serious. " 
^^  then  it  s  about  Humphrey?" 
"Yes,  dear." 

'•  N:?heCS  wen -' ""  ^"^'  ^"•^ ^  '"''^'^  ^»- 

n^^fSii^eii^s^ss:^^  ^""^'^  -•^^  -  -<=»• 

264 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunde- 

"  He's  here,  Emmy. " 
eatm""'    '^'"^-    ^'^  ""t  afraid  of  him.    He  won't 
"  He's  in  this  house  " 

Oh,  Petrina  dear,"  she  said    softlv    ".*',  .„  i 

the  drawing-room?    Let  me  coTalol     r  •  ^" 

a  minute  together  "  ™  8°  •«  a'one.     Give  us  just 

backlntoTef  ir  "^^'  '^^  ''^^  ^^^^^  »-  gently 

we?i3e^^rt£  ^;iir  "?;^- -- 

B^utT^diiTt  Sv^nrc?y"^Sh?'-r  -^^ 

nor  flinched.     She  ruir„orsufr!r'y^%^Jrf 

see  to  what  depth  she  had  the  power  to  i::!.      *"""  '" 

How  queer!"  she  said,  with  a  little  nervous  easn 

Hiimphrey  married  again!     Well  well  J^uU^^l 

tois7!y-i.s:;.ri^-^-r;r 

musingly  at  the  point  of  ITer  tiny  shL      ^°'""  "^"^ 

IS  she  going  to  call  herself  ?"    "^""^ ''^*''^'«»'^-    What 
265 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Tu"'''^*  »l>e  is  Lady  de  Bohun." 

odalisQue  Well  pJ^  5»"ltena  and  she  is  only  the 
ivZ^Ti  Well  Petnna  dea-,  I  shall  go  away  and 
think  of  It.     Luckily  there  .., a  loU  of  g^  AshLZ^ 

'  When  you've  married  Gerald  Bertie  " 
l^dy  de  Bohun  laughed  and  rose. 

comLii?but-""'"  ^'^  """^^  P'-''  ">-  I  can 

hef tdltg'fif"*  '"  ^'°"''*"^'  -'^  •-«-  *o  P"t  on 

thiii^-i^re^roSy^u."^'"  ^^^^"^  -^'>--  "^'^  — 

aeIi^'^"°Vn,!' "'^''^""^  ^^y  ^'  ^''""'  sitting  down 
Sal."  '  ""'■"  ^'^«  ^'^^y  than  an  ext^ 

cJluaf '^*  '"^"'"'^^  '^  ^^"  "l""-  Humphrey  and 
"If  Nemesis  has  been  quick  to  act  you  won't  exoect 
me  to  complain.     I  feel  as  if  she  had  been  TdulyCr 
ned  m  overtaking  me;  therefore—"  '""'ynur- 

would.'"'"™'''^^  *^^'  ^°"  '°"'''  P"''  "ght  if  you  only 
"And  I  won't." 
;;  Hippolyta  has  been  here.     She  saw  them. " 

'•wvV'"-^°J'^  ^""^  t^^""'  if  she  spoke  her  mind  " 

Which  IS  just  what  she  did  " 
'  Bravo,  Polly!" 

"You  wouldn't  .say  that,  Emmy,  if  you  had  heard 
how  she  insulted  Gentian  " 
"Well,  I  didn't  hear." 

2t)6 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

"But  I  think  you  ought  to  know.    She  told  her  to 
her  face,  and  before  Humphrey,  that  she  hcl„ni^  ! 
the^mecUss  as  Lucy  FitLlan'and  HeUy  vSe"^.*°' 

ahe  s  her  mother's  daughter     I  «hn„ w„  '4  r 

as^that  myself,  but  it's  prSeTy  w'hlu  IS ''^°  "  '" 

fac  J.'LnTt^SlXekM '' ^  '  ''''^'^''  -^  ""^ 
•' Naturally.    It  w  ..Id  to  anybody. " 

und^i/ rct'rt^ntVoroStTr'p*'" 

cannot  make  some  reparation     You  olh   .  ^°" 

their  marriage.     It  w^ufd'tean'^ryTh^Xhr'' 
I  shall  do  nothing  of  the  kind."  ^       *^- 

reasTi  aS'lif^^  Than'r^^'  >  ^^^  •- 

^HruiVa^^^^ainrKi'  r J"-^ 

11  was  not  his  wish;   he  only  accenterf   ™.,,=     v 
ga.^  him  his   entire  liberty  JhenySooryouro^" 
And  now  because  he  acts  in  accordance  with  the  f^ 
dom  which  you  yourself  insisted  on-" 

For  goodness'  sake,  stop,  Petrinal"  Lady  de  Bohun 
cned,   springing  to  her  feet.     "Where  are  tLv?     k 

'cric° "  uiv'i;  r,,'"  "?">■."  """*  ""«>"i  hy» 

267 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

hand  rtLSTem       *  ^^''  ''"'  ••«■  °»f t«tched 

toCii^t  Sili'  '''a7d"S!  *="«•'  <^fy'y-  «  "he  went 
malediction^'  '^^  '=°'"''  *»  pronounce  my 

grasped  handf  '''  '««'-«'«"'«>  ^ce  a.  th^ 

you  looked.  As'ff  ;ou;Hlphr?'  1  *°  ^'*,'^"'* 
offering  her  hand  to  Wm  "  I  ^^mi     ^'      ''*  ''*"'  '^^ 

you  At  lea,t.^\tiHVyo?::^ek'tre'°?T 
nicest  men  I  ever—    nu    d  *  •      7,        *  °"^  °'  the 

vously,  "Ton't  s^e  at  me'  Uk^Zi  '  %  ""^'  "- 
elling  earth  into  my  own^ravel^hv  don-r'  ^^• 
me  some  tea?"  K™vei     why  don  t  you  give 

to  sil;::^  Ti^JiXc"  "^^  ^-"""'  »-*«^ 

^  ar  Humphrey  laughed  in  his  boyish,  embarrassed 

;;i  don't  know  what  to  say,  Emmy,"he  began 
Vou  never  do.  You  novpr  a:a  \t  "^s^n. 
she  intemipted,as  she  took  h'tp  of  ^e^  "'-r  T"'" 
you'll  find  some  day  what  a  w-Ku-^'  .9^*^. 
with  a  dumb  man  who^^n  ^  It-**""^  '* '«  *»  hve 
he  blinds  you.  BuuLlTsct'^S^!^^  ^^^  «"^'^  «" 
we  are  quite  alone.  How  go^^tiX  •  f  V°"  ^*»«» 
please  hand  me  the  bis^iu  "  "'    ""™Phr«y. 

bro'^^htte  bSs°rndX5trr  .""'"'"-^ 
her.  Petrina  and  G^n^^e  wh;,?!-^'^'"  ^^^ 
tea-kettle  and  spirit-lamp  '^'""P^^ng  over  the 

"This   is  a  rum   go,"Jr  Humphrey  said,  in  a 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 


he  held   the  plate  of  biscuiU   before 


low  voice, 
Emilia. 
"It's  a  rum  life,"  she  returned,  laconically 

It »  queer  to  meet  like  this,  Emmy     But  '*h«, 
haven't  any  heart  "  ^"uny.    aut,  then,  you 

them  fall  on  the  Cr"  ^''*"-    ^°"  «  '^^'^nit 

^Before  Humphrey  could  retum  to  her,  Emilia  had 

wh^Tm*|L".°"GayrGtt,-^''^r  '^'  '"'  ^ 
we  shall  be^ompari^S^s^orX  ^eTInST 
worst  of  men     Good-bye,  Humphrey!"  ^'"*  "*' 

heart.  "After  all."  she'^^hTS  a^nl  -'it*^ 
they  who  must  be  truly  man  and  wife  NTo^!,  r 

^«e\1t'rSrlts-r^--"^^^^ 

"^^^:^|ssi^fsrr:s-a 

"?:s^^?ai^Laky'SH:f  .r^S  th  ^t^  *^'°°^'  . 
am  ., hard.    Hum^phrey  ^If  S^'Y 'hav^'tTnJ 

She  tried  to  laugh,  but  without  much  success 
Inen  she  went  down  the  <itpn<.    o«j      '^*"    .• 
carriage,  drove  away  alone  LtX  S.  """""^  "*' 
269 


Mie»OCOfy   RtSOUlTION   IBI  CHA»T 

(ANSi  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


_^  APPLIED    IIVHGE       In 

S^^  1653  Cost  Moln   Streat 

—  ^  RoctiMter,   Neo  York         14609       USA 

■J^  (?16)  482  -  0300  -  Phone 

^S  (716)   288-5989  -Fox 


Let    Not    Man    Put    Asunder 

Sir  Humphrey  and  Gentian  took  their  leave  at  once-^ 

As  the  door  closed  behind  them,  Petrina  turned  in- 
stinctively to  look  at  the  tall  clock  in  the  vestibule     It 
was  after  seven.     Then  she  suddenly  remembered  wha 
the  events  of  the  ast  hour  had  driven  from  her  mind 

V  assail  had  not  come. 


CHAPTER  IV 


Petrina  said  to  herself.     "  It  is 


"But  he  will  come,' 
late;  but  he  uit// come. ' 

So  she  changed  her  dress  for  the  one  he  liked  best 
and  clasped  round  her  neck  the  collar  of  pearls  and  dia- 
monds he  had  given  her  when  they  were  married. 

Mr.  Vassall  has  been  delayed,"  she  said  to  the  ser- 
vant^who  came  to  announce  dinner.     "J  will  wait  for 

But  when  an  hour  had  parsed,  she  sat  down  alone 
She  could  not  eat;  she  could  only  wait  and  listen 
th.  f/l.  T  f "!  *°  Cambridge,  after  all,"  she  said,  as 
the  tall  clock  struck  nine.  "He  will  dine  there-  but 
afterwards  he  will  miss  me  and  return.  I  feel  as  if  he 
were  already  on  the  way." 

nf^rA^^  ^^^^!'f  composure  before  the  servants,  and 
after  dinner  sat  down  m  the  library  to  read.  Her  eves 
were  upon  the  open  page,  which  she  did  not  turn  •  but 
her^senses  were  strained  to  catch  every  footstep  iA  the 

The  clock  in  the  vestibule  struck  ten 
Hn"tw'^w"°*,f^^P  *f^'"  ^^^  ^'^-     "He  couldn't 
t  Scom:'^"  ■■"'"  *^*  '  ^"^  »•-  ^'°-'  -d 

She  closed  her  book,  and  went  down  to  the  waiting- 
rc^m  near  the  door.  There  was  a  small  bow-windol 
which  commanded  the  approach  to  the  house  from  both 
directions.  It  was  here  she  had  waited  for  Emmy  „ 
the  afternoon.  She  sat  down  again,  and  began  s  W 
271 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

ing  her  eyes  throueh  the  darknpso     Tt  ,„„o 
liffhllv  anri  iU^  „     1  aarimess.     Jt  was  snowing 

Sv  Tu.  ^*  ^^^T^^^P-^' '"  a  long,  double  line,  shone 
tamtly  like  stars  striving  to  throw  their  light  to  each 
other  through  the  mists  of  space.  Carriage!  rolled  by 
their  rumble  softened  by  the  snow.  People  were  r^ 
turning  from  theatres  and  dinners.  The  parsT's-bv 
on  foot  were  few^  Only  now  and  then  couW  Pe  rina 
see  some  muftied  figure  come  slowly  into  vision  through 
the  flickenng,  fantastic  Ught.  Thon  her  hea"t  b,lt 
fa.ster.     Surely  it  was  Harry.     It  w,      us  walk     No- 

"  Ve°TT~"r ""''  *^"  *^^  •»--  wouWgo  by 

The  clock  in  the  vestibule  struck  eleven.     It  was  the 
Westminster  chime,  'and  Petrina  thought  of  thTdavs 
which  she  and  Harry  had  spent  together  in  London 
He  IS  waiting  till  the  last  minute,"  she  said     "He 

wat    SJT  't''t.'°'  '"^^  °'  Passing  me  on  the 
^.,.     ^  .  ^^"■y'     ^"^^    tried    him    sol     He    is    so 
proud!     Bu    after  to-night  I  will  be  better.     A^en  he 
comes  he  will  find  me  humbled  " 

She  smiled  to  think  how  she  should  beg  his  pardon- 
so  earnestly  and  meekly-as  she  had  never  exS  to 

Tufd  comr''      ^""^'"^  ^''  """'"S'  •^^^•'^  «»-t  h« 

Fewer  carriages  rolled  by  now,  and  it  was  only  at 

ong  intervals  that  she  saw  any  one  on  foot.     The  snow 

fell  steadily  gently,  without  wind;  it  lay  on  the  strX 

s^vSr   u'waT^'"^-'  «ke  something^deathlike.    sfe 

"  Tell  the  servants  to  go  to  bed  "  she  ^^iA  *«  v, 
maid,  a  little  later.     "I  Ji„  Jt  up  fj  mT  vl.salT 
Leave   he  street  door  unlocked  and  ^e  lightl'  buS^ 
and  bring  me  a  shawl. "  ^       Dummg, 

Then  she  sat  on  and  on  in  the  darkened  room,  peer- 
272  *^ 


"iMn 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
^Z''lt:^:;^lj:''-    .T'^-  were  no  «ore 

mg  out  useless  blots  of  liffhUnl^^f        /^"^^  ^'^''w- 

The  house  was  still  but  tL^!^        ^""^^^  **''^^t- 
time  to  time  by  qi    stfrtiini'"'' ^f '''°'^^"  ^^°'n 
never  heard  in  thrdStim^"*''^! JhTh  ^  ^I^'^'^  ^^''^ 
closer  around  her,  and  w^t^h^  on     e^'^*^/  ^'^^''J 
accustomed  to  the  striking  of  thld^k  !nH  ^p 
ly  noticed  when  it  boom^  out  one "^d  "o  "^^ 

will  come  to  me  through  ihe  snow  ^if  " V^^"  "« 
XT.''^''  /'I*  '^  ^'''  h^  i«  -  long  "  "  '"'  """^  '^^ 

Pefitgl^l^Sj^-  -V'",^"''  «-'  --^ 
The  conviction  came  slowlv  Sn/'^"' .^^^  ''^  ^«'"- 
crushing  certainty  She  was  numb'""-  ^'  ''f  ^"'^ 
eyes  ached  with  lookinr^f  tt,  T.'***   '^"l'^-'  her 

at  last  she  coulVsTatfylf/S  to^^^  f'^  '"'' 
As  she  passed  the  unliJLtlT         .®^"  t°  the  stairway. 

were  apaTt,  Tnd  a  grtf  t^^^kTh^rr  'l^^  "^'"''^^ 
was  strange  to  think  ^L  oS  lasrnlht''r^'^°.f  Y  " 
been  singing  and  La  Madrilena  d^Z  therrtr  '^'^ 
it  seemed  hke  years  "«"ang  mere,  for  now 

them  out,  anV-wrLwatdlrr^^rrc.m'^^'J^^^^^^^ 
step  she  paused  to  listen      vr  L  !^        ■**  ^"^h 

like  the  ratling  of  a  lat3;-kevl?th°7'^'  '%'^'^  ""''' 
nothing;  no  one  came  in       ^  ^*  "^^  ^'^'-     ^"*  '*  ^^^ 

n.i!Sr/r'lu':uS%nd""'  'S '°°^^  "'^  -<^  ""f- 
sense  of  vanity     Thev     °^"f-7  "'"°*^  1>«^   ^"h  a 

fort  offered  to  the  dSr   ShTsSdT'™*'  ^""^  '=°'"- 
^  ucdu.    one  stood  for  a  moment  and 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

gsasssss 

matter  now  "  ^  ^^'"-     ^"'  »'  won't 

before  them  0„  th '  i  f  . '  ^"'^  ^^^  ^^°°^  shivering 
to.raph,  ^r^meSin^JrntntS  '""'  "^^^""'^  "'^ ' 
hasaten'li^Si:  ^^^f  '''^- .  "He  has  left  me.  He 
shouFhatTctnTio  thr-'^""""^  *•"*  ^'  °^  ^"  — - 

She  had  never  ex5:creS%rLTS'15?ve'°  '"''"'"^■ 
"Ihet"''^  T"  "^^^  "°  one  Willi  t;Lerv°"'  ""■ 
ovI'^ht'i'jXlt-oW^'  ^^"-^f  ™^^ '-ed 
tears  came  pourirdown  st  '"^"^^'f '^'"'  ^"'^  '^' 
ing,  and  it  r«.t  he?  Sly.    ^'''  ^^"  ""'  "^«>  ^^  "y 

away,  but  I  didn't  w^nt  you  toTo  T  k  n  .'""*  ^^^ 
you.  but  I  wanted  you  to  mas  er,^.  /f  ^"?^  ^S^'*^^* 
you  but  I  wanted^outrs*  rir  J^anTtT t 
me,  to  force  me  to  do  right  to  hJ^SL    *  °  *'^'='^ 

would  have  yielded  if  you  had  pre£d  bT"  1^  ,  ^ 
You  never  did.  You  never  carSvA  .^"t  y°"  d'dn't. 
with  .me.  Just  becausTHnM  ^°" ''^  been  so  hard 
Oh,  Harry,  I've  s^lvou  «w     ^°V^  ^°'  y°"  ^^n*- 

from  me^cross  th"  /°  r ATrL  S?  ^°"''^  ^°  ^^ 
so  cold  and  lonely  "     "'^^'^^'='^°S''  *e  snow-«nd  I'm 

She  shivered  and  sobbed  till  the  fountain  of  her  tears 
■274 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
d'^^L^^oo Jstcl'^if  ^--'-«'  '='-•'  in  Vassal,', 

looked  out  into  the  str^t     I    tZ'^T"'  ^^"'"  «nd 
she  could  see  the  stars    Heavv  v  h    >    T^^  snowing; 
eav>„g  rough  furrows  inthelnow'^"  ^"^^"  '°  «°  ^y 
them.     The  city  life  was  waC°^      ''"'"^  '^''^^  "^^^nd 

ui^sta!rs"ia^°'  ^^""^  "°-'"  «he  repeated,  and  wen. 

feeS;  ofaTglXfhe'rhorr^'  ^"^  -"^  .t  a 

th.t  he  should  have  sub^cte^ht^y!>^"  «»  P"«>ess; 

"I  shall  never  forget  tc^„llhf^-'°""^  ^«'n  watching. 

worthyof  himtohavetflTZ    hi      "  '^'^-     "  ^' '«  "«" 
Her  self-reproach  for  hf  •     ^^"Ponme-" 

passing  into  rUte^  is  ht7"  "^""-^^'^  ^^^ 
.  She  went  into  his  room  ThV  "u  ^^""^  K""^- 
just  struggling  through  thl.^""'"'"^ '^g'^' ^a« 
was  as  usual-the  brufhes  on  fl"  !""'■  Everything 
boots  and  shoes  in  a  W  linT  "'^  ^'■'^^«"g-teble,  the 
b;eath  caught  as  she  Wk^^lt  fh'"'  '«l^""-  "- 
strange  sense  of  somethineTr^vn    m""'     ^''^  ^^^  'hat 

^5 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

costly  ,i,e?  til  which  ^hflZ""'  ""i^"*  ''°"" 
amid  what  was  in«  Jfe t  ht  ve^/pe^^  t"",  "'''f 
abandonment  smote  her  to  the  cole  '     '  '^"'^  °^ 

wearif;  u^^nVb^^  "°"^' "  '""^  ^'' '  -«» '^--  herself 

into  her  soul.    The  clLll^Sck'sfven'  *'  '""  ^"'^^ 

1  shall  not  forerive  him  nn»r  "  =1.    '     j    ., 
when  he  comes."  '     **  ^'^'     "<>»  even 

But  he  never  came  again. 


Patt  W 


CHAPTER  I 
She  felt  it  iLTkTaTh^^'wh'.rLST.^  '"  '''''• 

lace  trom  her  memory.     He  haiinf«l  hJ       j    u 

to  lay  the  ghost.     Once  "eetom  W.f ^hetfcfr/ 

her  peace  would  no  longer  be  disturb^'.      '  '"''^  ^""'"' 

^'»a' she  had  suffered  none  but  herself  anrfnn      *u 
knew;  and  that  other  was  not  Vas.^11     jth^T'  J^Hi 
her  as  the  world  had  iudeed      H^  ^i'     "f '^^^d  J"dged 
in  his  book  of  life  as  hSess   "ard  Ih"   '"  '"^  ''^ " 
wljile  she  did  her  best  To  Xtf 'v^^'iT """-'"''' 

toe  <»uid  „oi  w..h  ii  o.t  ,r,i;  ^,r  "'  "•  p"- 

279 


I^et  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

suspected  that  the  armw,  !^  ihn     uf  "i?"    ^''«   "«ve, 
for  h.n,  have  been  «^^  witL    "^"  *'«™'«'«  «uld 
reahze  that  a«  the  queeS^owi  ^T.    ^^^  ''''•  "«>' 
has  presumed  too  far.  back  wifh        ^  ■  °"^'"' "ho 
crowd,  to  wait  until  he  s  c^Med^i^  '°"^"?«"'  into  the 
oo,  counting  it  her  place  to  Srow  I"'  '^.^''"'^^  waited 
favor.   His  very  reverence  kl.il°     '"'"  ""^  «"'  «Kn  of 
U-at  she  was  above  hr^Td.hT"*"^',''"^'''^  ^-f 
trude  again.    A  sigh  hoTul  ''"",«?°lute  not  to  in- 
h.m  like  a  slave;  a  fear  frl  u    ""'"'iL^^^  summoned 
h-  spirit  like  a  flcS     He  d,d  „7f  ^"^t  ""^^P'  °ver 

vir "-'  "^«'"  ^'"^  Had  XuLd'-^^ra; 

thraXa/tterX^'S'  "'^  ^""'  °'  ^^'P  ov« 
learned  that  Vassall  hrd^rft  Lr^sr^'L"''"'  ^^ey 
a  topic  of  double  disapproval     H^L.Kf  He  "^ame  thus 
appeared  in  the  comZ^'pintf  "'"Hie  woodcuts  of  her 
paragraphs  told  of  her  action^       ."^  vulgarly  written 
A  woman  whose  ow"  huS"'' jr'*"/' and  to  come 
marnage,  finds  her  lev."v^r^?,  '    i".f  ^^*  '"'»'*s  of 
mshes  a  suitable  subS"^^ XT^^Hle,  naturally  fur- 
raeonteur.     To  Petrina',  fn^j"  *^  Journalist  and  the 
was  revolting;  but  "he  bcS'^^f'ousness  this  notorieTy 

"^fo^ShtTfeS  ^"^^  ^^    ''""'  ^"^' 

also  on  a  sLdS  evi;i„rr^  °^  Her -nusic-room,  and 
Quincy  Brattle  s^ke  of  M  7'*"^  Her  friends  again 
positively  ^.£te.  Id  :a^°rl'^  ^^°^^"^  - 
was  more  Spanish  than  ever  in  h'  nf  .^^  Madrilena 
A  company  of  gayly  dressed  T^f  '^""^f^  ^"^^  ««««. 
^  yy  aressed  Tziganes  added  that  B^ 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 
Iri"bbL°r  *"'■'=''  ^"'^'^  '"-^ht  appropriate  to 

^^^^''^^r::Sr:7rylZS^  -^  Vasaan-,  face 
o(  it  on  his  way  to  «^e  office  n^l.  '"*'''=''''  """""^ 

>J  was  the  he^nningotaZt^T"^  ^"^  P'^na 
stopped  at  nothing  which  S  ,?  ^J'"'??'f"'-  She 
prejudice  or  give  hfr  hSnd  1„  'sh  "'''"'"''''""'^ 
y  reckless  and  feverishly  indiWt  ^'^^r' T"^'"""" 
that  gossip  coupled  her  name  3  IhT  ?"='w''  ^'^ 
Browne  or  Bowdoin  Somerset  n,  ,u'  "'  Saltnnstall 

men  who  surroundeThT  she  diH"^'^'." ^  *''•' ^""nK 
report  some  »emblance^f  foundafon  "^'"^T  '^' 
she  was  severely  criticised  "SSTt  I  /^'*  *''•«' 
The  feeling  that  she  hnH  t«wJ/       '°  deserve  it. 

whose  Principles  !::,it£usT  '"""'^  ''^  «>-« 
her  to  fling  her  elove  in  » w    .       "--^nservative  -irged 

-buke  and%eiectt?  go^S  dWc^  Of  t!e%>'  -  '^^ 
life  she  was  more  aware  th«n  =„  .    ^""^  '     her 

outlet  to  her  need  of  act  on  aTj  ZIT  ?"'  "  ^«^«  «" 
mg  the  fact  that  she  had  fatled     ^       '  '""^  *=°"^'»"t- 

and^ha^fliKh.^^^^^^^^^^ 
waned  she  found  herself  ^t  hJ      .       /"  *'»«  winter 
tated  Boston  of  whic^KeS^e^^tl  1 '''"'  ^?"'"- 
of  a  noisy,  foolish  band  of  voun?^:Jr ,  *^  ""^-'eader 
single,  whose  wit  w^s  to  be Trf  P?P'^' "^nied  and 
tinction  10  be  coarse     Petr^„f  ^'^"  '  !"''  ^^ose  dis- 
menfor  their  weakness  and  th^        """l  ^^"^  »"'  the 
ners;  she  went  among  thelnikraT,/"--  '"^''i  '"^"■ 
ing  refuge  with  the  lesser  KrL^f       *"''"  """S^'  seek- 
their  gayeties  and   e^ThSul7"-    .^''^  i'""^' m 

-urnedtothe-^^-ife-'^t.^^^^^^^ 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

and  her  steMhSZrlhT  ^"^  ^'^^^"^  '•^"^^ 
standing  bom  of  Ltnn''^  ^^T  "P  «  ^isunder- 
de  Bohun  and  HiS>lyte  had°::i  of  counsel.  Lady 
year  to  England     Hu^nhr  ^"'!i^  ^^'^y  '"  the 

Italy     As^W  ,1  ""'"P'^'^ey  and  Gentian  were  in 

BXeJ'S^LtvaS^t^?"^  '^"  '•^^  '°"^'^«- 
In  the  beginning  of  Ihtv  .    *^^?'^^n^e  ^as  complete. 

One  day  there  crept  into  her  house  a  mu  .u  , 
woman  in  fashionless  black-a  woman  S  IT^ 
m  the  past  winter  more  ih^«  A  .  ""^^  ^"o  had  aged 
was  MrT  Va.ssa^^  PeTrina  1,°^  twenty  years.  *"  It 
compunction  as  she  S^lt  T'°"p°^  ^  ^^"^  °^ 
Harry's  troubles  had  fXnh.f-,-  ^"""^'^  a"d 
had  already  borne  the  triaTs  S^  °"  ^  "P'"*  ^^ich 

VassallhadcarrT^heUarnts'so'r^o^'^r'r^-     ^'^■ 
and  her  own.     She  had  been  t""^"^^' her  husband's, 

brave.     And  now  the  Ine  '  r       T-  l""^  ""'^^  «»<» 

sustained  the  steps  that  S"  T'"'"*'  "*'°"ld  have 

ing  its  new  ,oa?t^o^l';iS?he?hrt  ^°"^^  ^«^  ''-^- 

Perhaps  .t  was  the  sight^of  this;  perhaps  it  was  some 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

the  frail,  broken  hlart^P^i   ''!'''°\her  arms  about 
ticulate  words  of  wefcome  ^^"^  ^""^  ""^'^  >n«^- 

fo  "  atd  ■  b^SforteT  'S::'  tt  v^^^^  ^°  -™- 
proud  and  rebellious   and  7hT   m        ^°""^  "'"'"^n- 

common  standing-ground.         ^''P^"^n«  "ley  found  a 

"I  know  how  his  father  was,"  the  little  m„«u 
mured,  and  in  the  wnr^.,  ti.  ^  mother  mur- 

unackiowljged  tnar  Sh/V'^K  ^.T*^"'"  h'«t°^y  °^ 
io  submit  to  fh7  parent  r^M  ''^^  ^'■°"^'"  »>^^«e« 

her  who  woulLfsuTm  tt t^sT ^'I^V  «  "T"  "^ 
a  friend ;  and  at  least  nr,^h      ,  °"-     ^  Petnna  found 

all  appe^rance^^'hTlTgSg'^^^^^^^^^  ^  ^^"^  "f 

her  steivmother's  pardon.     OnboSdes  and  f'"'""^'^* 
reasons,  the  reconriHafi^r,  7.  ?'  ^"°  ^°''  many 

There  fallowed X  PeTrina  a  vLr'T'"^  ""'^  ^"^^ 
elusion.  The  summer  L^  ^  *  ""'^'"^  ^"'J  ««- 
Faneuil  Hill,  the  ~  in  the  4:!"Ji:  ^^"  "^'"^  ^' 
di^  iust  as  they  w^ tmLg^'North'''  ''"■  ^™' 
i-etrina  spent  the  summer  at  Faneuil  Hill 

283 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

tone.  Vassal!  seemed  vpto  fo, 

had  learned  to  dT^thl^ht  T^  ^'""^  ^«-  She 
Wet  him.  It  v^aTSbJZ't'JX  '^^'"'^"S  to 
from  time  to  time  that  he  wis  ^H^k  ^^u  'f  ^^ered 
belonged,  she  felt,  to  a  ver^  dUf  *  ?"'^''-  "«> 
as  the  years  went  but  dilS^t  t^  J^"*"^**^*  ""t 
has  waked  from  it.  ^  ^^^  ^^"^  's  after  one 

When  she  left  Faneuil  Hill  P»«„-      jj 

of  active  life  again.  '^^'  ''««»«  some  sort 


CHAPTER  II 

thft"'^  "u  "^  beginnings  are  not  easy  We  lit-  ♦  t  , 
that  each  event  of  life  is  linked  ♦^♦u  i  I  ^  *°  ^^^' 
stinct  is  for  growth  rather  fh  ?  ""f  '^'*-  ^"'  «" 
The  career  of  broke^^'' w^^"  ^"^  t^^'^P'antation. 

that  of  simple.  stSy'rcSSs  S  T""  .1^  ,"'='''  ''"* 
peace.  Progress  is  the  more  likely  to  give 

was  loosed,  her  isolafinn  K  ""'^  *'^  '»  »>«•  1'^ 

her  liberty  was  awful  ""  ^P'^"'"^  to  herself; 

"noZt^Z;  on?whS\?^  T'"  ^•'^  "'-«^-- 

During  her  Wef  maS  Nf.    t'^l  ^^^^'^'  ■"«'" 
nottohaveadhid  Xwlh.^^^^'"'*  ^^  ^"^°"« 
carried  a  baby  in  her^ali     T"**  -^f?  ™°*«^  ^^o 

^lLtt^=.;£HfF™ 

flected!arsh:Lu„\rd^ro&T- •"-!.''  she  re- 
steaming  towarfs  Italv  "A  i  *e  ^«"«-.n  Friedrich, 
ed.  with  a  sjh       ^'       ^^  ^"  hcneless."  she  add- 

nf oitymS^ioir'^r  r  --^  -^^-'  <i-- 

Boston  and 'le'^ir "Cj^'afar  b°  ^^^  ^^°'" 
was  as  good  as  any  other,  an^d  Z  sTrintTaiTeSr 

"'^:irXTr^'!.'^'°''^*^»''^^-'°'=Hoo.e      ' 
'   285 


'"'  ""'  M„  p„,  A.„„j„ 

't«  ^ates  are  shut  beWnd  Se  1  "^^^.^^ven  out.  £ 
way  and  I  shall  never  be  m.?"^'  °^  ^'^  k«p  thi 
wonder  why  it  should  W  t  *°  ^°  ^^^^^  again  I 
future,  I  suppose,  Uh^Uo^f'^^'i  '^"'  '°  «e?  In 
become  like  the  PlS^tch^'"^  ''"'  ^°^'"-  ^  «ha« 
Jew  or  Mr.  Lechmere  "  ^''^'^™«"'  o'"  the  Wandering 

t>he  was  conscious  that  fh„  i  . 
her  mind.  She  explaZi  "^^  ^''  "«"'«  '^as  often  in 
feet  that  he,  too,  had  S  .  T"'"^^"^''^  by  the 
had  ended  it  as  she  ha™S^"u""''^PPy  marriage  and 
bad  lost  sight  of  him,'tKgh  Z-  /°'-*-ye!r;  she 
he  was  m  the  East.     When  stt  J"?^'^  ^^^uely  that 

-r  d'o-utTt;^  4" '^-     '^^^'  °^ ''"' 

^id  to  he^elf.     "WanTerSs'iru"'  *'^^^  •^^^«'"  ^^^ 
each  other's  paths."  '^^  "^  are  sure  to  cross 

•^  she  wac  «.«* 
some  Boston  pe^^/^^^-ed  -hen   she  learned  from 

;rJ"'''r"^^-'nSrt5^^        had  retuS 
northward,  they  met  at  S        ^''"''  ^'''="  «be  went 

Eager  to  escape  from  tu^A       ■ 
quaintances  who  acco2d  h,        "'^"  ^""^  '^"g«sh  ac- 
osseum  to  the  ptnd^npJ-"'''?'^^'''  Wtfat  Co? 
one  morning,   through' the  "CtJ^  driven  out^-eariv 

found  herself  in  the  Ireen  Cam        ^^"  ^"^^nzo,  and 
a  courier  were  with  hfr        *^^'"P«^a.     Her  maid  ^d 

i*ive  on  to  Tivoli  "  »k 
with  the  breath  of  flowers  a jf"""^'  ^f  ^P'"*^  ri«ng 
way  was  not  new  to  W  ^kutT"^  of  solitude.     Thf 

omW-'^  always   wondelr'T!  '"  L'^  «°"-" 

over  Its  daisies  and  the  scarlet  J"   -7^  "'hite   comes 

«^rlet  on  its  poppies  like  the 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

flush  of  youth  into  the  cheek  of  Fa„c«      i* 
venescence;  it  is  alm«.t  „  .   '     "  "'^s  a  reju- 

and  then  a  peasant  trud^^  k" '"''"""'y  ^""-  Now 
herd,  clad  in  unshorn  shee^^U'^'  °'  ^  ^'^^-^^^  ^^e^ 
rounded  by  his  flodT  ^^^^^^"^^-  '=^'^^  into  view  suri 

morning?^! vast  Cws  of S    °  "''"'  ''"'  ^'^'^ 
much  had  hapnent^    nJ^ff  ,  ^''*'"^'  °"  "'hich  so 

disappeared  ;r^?;;i5r^-Jt  -arly  all  had 

^release  fro.  Vassa^ll  a^i^J^i.-^-J^^J^ce 

hei^rSli^^f'  -  ^''^  '-ked  about 
waiting  to  begiA  again  "  ^'"'  '^'"^^^'  ^"^  "^^  i« 

Leaning  back  in  a  corner  of  «»,„ 
busied  itself  with  those  wL  ^.^         '^^'''  ^^^  ^^""y 
ground   before  her-kLr  L        ""^^"^  ^''■^  bit  of 
apostles,  soldiers    poets    !;,nr'^'°''''   ^^'  'i"^^^' 
Veii,Gabii,Jews'GSk;  R    l"'  ~"*>"«'-''^«'  captives 
and  free4hosrsnru'i^f;^'?r^"^  Scythians,  bond 
ered  from  the  ends  0"!;'^  *\^  ^"^  «nd  those  gath- 
them  rejoicing  whh  the  „,.    ^"^^""^  ''^^  «™°ng 
pain,  o^  panUnrwith  the  fer'A^H^'^':'"^  "'*  ">! 
Pride  which  were  now  as  wMv      •'"'''*»"?,  ^"^  the 
^ia's  soul  from  the  mL  of  AnS"  ^Th^  C"  ^V  .^y'" 
cmths,  and  anemones  wer/^1    ■        harebells,  hya- 

than  when  M^enTdr:vTov"r°^r foaTto?  '%'' 
or  Zenobiato  her  Dalarp-r,r.c„  ver  ims  road  to  his  villa, 

spent  the  only  s  g'S  w^re  '  brok  -'  ''"'"^"  '*^°^' 

ly  tower  here  and  thire    of  th    S  '"'""'"'*  °''  «  ^°"e- 
out  there  was  no  Lmori;!  save  thr^-  ^Jf'  P""^^ 

And  now  it  is  my  turn,"  Petrina  mused.     "J   too 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
have  come  from  a  far^ff  i      . 

pr«t  greer.  field  of  Sy     i  .^"'^  T,  "°^'"S  ^he 
Life  m«,«  have  somethin^^nreJZ  T'^  ^'^«"y-«even. 
f°"l  's  nch  with  the  sleepin  "  n!^"^^  ^°'r  '"^-     ^his  very 
knows  but  that  I  mayS  'r^"'  °^  ">^  P«««-    Who 
veiy  flowers,  blossornHCaiM^  °"t  "^t?   '^^ese 
heie,  are  proofs  of  thl\t-.       *''«'  ^as  hapnened 
knows  but^^that  I  U;  f .'?'^'^''=y  o[  spring.'^wS 
very  road  has  been  wo^  h  ?."  r'°'""  °^  them?    This 
from  Egypt  and  SyZanIc    /u''  °^  ^''"^^  ^^o  came 
journeyed  here  to  find'tS  fate    Th'"^^"'^'"-  «nd 

as  if  the  "e:d°y',r:eh'^:r««  ^'^  -  ^-^^ 

mono  ony  must  burst  into  1*       5  f ,"  germinating  in 
terestang  must  occur  ^'''  ^"'^  **>«*  ^omething^in 

"hat  is  it  to  be?"  P^t  • 
the  Plautian  tomb  an/iu'^°"^''^^'  as  she  passed 
But  if  she  hadToZt^A^r'  °^  ^^^  ^illa  Adria^f 
had  co„e  down  fZ~he  WM  '  * ^  ^iburtine  S 
hooks  of  the  future^  hLu^^^  °^  ^^-^oli  with  the 
able  to  read  IhS  and^^s^  Sh  ''.^^"'^  "^^^  ^^ 
wg  her,  she  might  W  Tu^^  f  **?*  ^^^  ^^s  tZ 
back  to  Rome.     But  aTk      ™^  ''^  horses  and  c-onP 
|he  Sybil's  books  are  bu,a"''a  d'^'^l^  '^  «  "^^  an" 
«^|wmdingohv.borderX;^/l-E^«na^^^^^^^^^^^ 

Go  to  tlie  Villa  d'P^*    "    , 
•-^  as  they  entered  the  t      "  "'^'"'^   *«  '^oach- 
ly /Se^K/Hate^esolation  of  the  Cam- 

garden  planned  L  ahun,    "'"'■^°  ^'"^  herself  in  a 


Le.  No,  M.„  p„,  A,„„d„ 

hat  she  thought  of  the  hZ  ^^'"^  *°  a  refuge 

r^  ---^  -e   ie^h™V;::VSe^S| 
«f^S^wS?t^:^ilr^in;^e  Shadow  of  th^ 

shade  were  grateful.  Undt  !he  sT.'  '^'  ^'^'"'^^^  ^''d 
Judas-trees  relieved  the  dimnl  u  T  ^yP-^esses  the 
wh.le  the  lilacs  and  lemon  tTeeffin'i  i^^^^^'^  P-k! 
dehcate  perfumes.  Far  be  mu  ''"«1  the  a.r  with  their 
cades  and  fountains  Peiri^!"  "^'"^^^e  sound  of  cas- 
and  looked  down  the  avenue  of'.?'"^ ''''  ""^^  '-"aTe 
below  terrace.     On  each  .         ^P'^^s^es.     Terrace  lav 

and  1  Jacs,  Juda^.tre" "a^/^Sr  l^J^'  Z^  -<^- 
Jails,  basins,  and  rillpf«  „       •  ^ountams,  water- 

nels  bordered!  ^  mailnT'"^/*''""^''  «'°ne  c£. 
h;«-side.  The  marble  stefrcasf-^f^J^J  '"^^  "-irsTy 
Planetoplaneweremoss-S'^JfL"''"*  [«^  '^°^"  ^^°™ 
and  thero  between  the  c^ses  l?"* ''^ '""«•  Here 
of  Monte  Catillo  and  the  towe"  ^f^'  ^^^  ^^'""P^^ 
Far  down,  at  the  end  of  Zu  ^"^  '°°^«  °^  Tivoli. 
he  Campagna,  now  SearJn^  ^^^  ,1^^'^^^  vista,  lay 
the  morning.  s^t^aming  with  the  many  colors  of 

haSuT^S^TrsSe"^ 

^^^^^:^^  ^'y''  "^ed  Lechmere. 
But  I  was  obliged  to  come  in  a 


289 


carnage,"  Petrina 


!■«  No,  M,„  P„,  A,„„j„ 

.  Which  proves  that,  after  all  .♦  ;. 
spint,  as  I  feared  "  I  r^h!!,         '  '  "  y""  and  not  vour 

i^thrffes-^^nVKs^^ 

hness  were  being  bridged  over   1/^^  "\^  h«r  lone. 

We  were  touching  hers  at  last  "T \  ^'?°*''"'  '^"'nan 
you  .n  Rome,"  she  contfnuS  "  r  i,  '^  '°  ^^^«  »«n 
back  from  India.  Wha  an  „„»  ^  ^°"  ''«''  co'ne 
out  news  of  youl"  "  ^^^  y^"  have  left  us  with 

in  B^toa'"  ^'*''""'''^^'-«»--loring slightly,  "he's 

::Are  you  with  a  party,  thenr 
conceal  he;  embUa' S"'  "'^"^"^^  ^^  «"««hade  to 

"M  "  ""^  ""'  alone?" 
But  tK?  atu?  Ztr  i^of "-  ^-  -  outside, 
have  you  come  from?    Whathn^       ^u    ^""^    '^'here 
wo-nearly  three-years?    ^   ^°"  •'^«"  doing  these 

%t,f''^'"^^**h  "eld's;/-  ^°"  -*  h^:: 

Shall  we  walk  down  the  garden?"  u 

Yes;  let  us;  I  haven't  befn  hp"     ■  ^  ^S^^^sted. 

dear  mamma,  five  years  ago^      ''"  "'"'^^  ^  ^ame  with 
f  notice  that  you're  in  black?"  T     u 

tone  of  gentle  questioning     "Thonif^>'"""-  «^'d,  in  a 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

deLL^"'^Tv:'^SV'.^!' ^"'''"'-' - 'hey  began  to 
little  elephant!hun?„;''"HT-  °"V°  "'*'  extenfof  a 

we  last  met,  I've  docked  off '„eal  [h"  "^^  *"  "'^''  ^'"" 
conspicuously  useless  career  '^^        '  '"""'  ^^^  °^  « 
It  still  amuses  you  to  talk  like  that?" 

from^nX-^nractSLiTor^"- 
Pg.     It  amuses  me  to  be  useless  W^  ^"^T'^ '"  ""th- 
is nothing  worth  whi'»     iJ^^      ^^""^  ^  ^^^^  there 
exterminator,  TimrslowIvmT'^^  ""^  *°  ^^^^  'he  great 
has  made  an  end  of^tmh.W^l"^,  ^"J"''  "'  «»«-  as  he 
on  the  Campagna,  andtt  is  c  umhr'°  "^  °"*  "'^- 
Villa  on  which  Pirro  Lieorio  «^^  tumbling  away  this 
so  much  pains.    The  axe  is  Mr    /^^l^°  ^'^^^'  «P«nt 
the   cypresses  and  judaXei  ^^^^^J^^^  '°  ''''  ^°°'  "^ 
cascades    run  with  greater  diffl     u^   ^"""tains   and 
Look  about  you   in^the  grass      ?^  T'  u^^  ^'^'■ 
hyacinths  are  creeDin<r  ,i„^  .   ^e  harebells   and 

from    the  wild"Sion    ofThTc"^""^  ""-hers 
Sooner  or  later  they  wil  s?ifle  aluLf    "Pl.^"^    helow. 
and  fill  up  all  thatu^u      il  ,,     'hat  man  has  planted 
be  with  "he  Villa  d'ptf        """"r^  ^"^^  hewn.     It  3 
will  be  rubed  wah  b^f„%^^  TV\^'  .^'"^  ^driana 

Pallofflowers.  t  tlSuVlS  ''%t""' °"*  """^^  ^ 
us  all  under  a  heap  of  blesswT"  j/™^ '«  smothering 
myself  submitting^o  the  ^,3  l^f^^  ^^  to  feel 
years  go  by,  the  progress  oFlZ  ^  *°  Perceive,  a.s 

physical  decay  "  "^  °'^"  '"'^ntal,  moral,  and 

whaT:hi*^:::3ri:r^^''/°  ^^*^^--  ^he 

and  that]  though  L^hmeL         "^Z"*  ^^" half  sincere; 

mism,  yet  the  motive  oHheT'  °"'^  "'^^'"^  ^'  P«««i- 

with  his  life.    The  ircepUon^tT.,''^'  disappointment 

perception  that  he  was  weak  touched 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

-ifrsitS.SamSpic  Lr '^^  If  r^-  -"-"  Va. 
moved.  In  the  n«dsTf  »r  '"^'' '""'  «'*'«y»  '«'»  un- 
interest;  but  forSnl't^.K^fu  ^^'«'«*  '^e  had  no 
Kentle  eye,  and  salZl  hS  It'^^"'^''^  ""^  «"" 
ahe  had  a  ready  feml^lfn^e  symX'^Trn^'l ""'""' 
tttXrterof  ^-     V»-  Sief  toT! 

seem  to  me  a  man  with  terrace--"  and  yet  you 

of  life.  I  should  hive  ^"d'C"'  '"'  ''''  ^■"^°"''  ^^ 
thingof  myownrather^r  1,  /°"  Possessed  some- 
beini  happy"^    ^^^''  ^"^^  ""^  '»""'^ss  capacity  for 

to'mS?  rSe^"  *''f  ^'  '''''  '^'h  foredoomed 

capacity  for  jof^  thT^iTT      "',  '°"  **"^*'«-     The 
of  plac^  in  Tworli    ift  s"  T  h""  '"^^  u  "  "  ''"' 

JrhivS^'..'"-  ^°-^«n"t!ra:o"ut?„n:y.5 
^^i!^!.:^^:^^^  ^-  ^-  ''^". 

theylZ^dlUra^Xfa^  - 

Petnt'^.rKiilte^^^^^^^^^^ 

"I  thought  you  WouW  b^  in  Rome""    "^'  *'^  ^"''^«='- 

WhenlhS^n^^n"  t^-pt^LT^dSf  1  ^'^^^ 
a  day  or  two  at  Tivoli  Th,«  •  '**"°"1  '«  stop  over 
in  which  a  hauntli^L  6^':^°^  °Th''=  ''"  ''If'^^^ 
here  that  doesn't  tell  voi,  ihti  ■  r^"^  ^  nothing 


Let  Noe  Man  p„,  A,„„d„ 
^JP^Z1'C.:Z lit,"" rl  ''"  «- 

"^  o   poor,  proud  human  Snw      wu'  **""*  «  '"''"r- 
bcen  for  the  imperial  g2  Twa'ch  X  "'  ''''^''  "  ''«" 
pxpirel    But,  you  sec,  if,  «»  otlr     ^^u"  .*"««'«  «nd 
ing  part  of  it.     You  iJam  he  i  tha  '  v  ^'""  "  ""^  "««*. 
"  of  no  consequence     VVh™  „        ^°"''  °*"  ■""'ffering 
spot  like  this  they  are  no  mor/^'i'u?"-"''  '^^  "P  ^™m  a 
of  a  crushed  ant. ""  The  Alton  flllu'.H''  '"T  ""^  '•''"«^'<" 
echoes  of  pain  that  yo-.r  own  vo  !        7'  ^"'^'^  ^  '"""V 
there  have  bet-n  such  hc«"c  Z 'f  '^""""■^-    ^^^ere 
«eem  small.     I  suppose  you'  «  not  "  h'  ""'  T"  *"«• 
the  balm  of  that.     But  by-and  hv      u    """"^'^  '"  I*""* 
begin  to  learn  that  the  fir^of  Inv '  "''"^"  y°"  ""d  Harry 
^  "  What  a  sense  ofmysL J  *h     '''•"  .''"™  '°'^-" 
Petrina  interrupted.  S  ZatnTn'V"  ""^  ^«''''="'" 
'It  has  always  «eemed^o  me  a"if  th  ?P  ^?  "^'""«- 
Cameron  might  have  been  told  hlr       t^'*'"  °^  **>«  ^ 
the  effect  of  cypress  and  shadt  ^n         /  ""PP°"'«  "  » 
shine  and  flowers,  and  all  thU  J    u""''^"'  ^'^h  «"n- 

"And  something  that  >L        P^f^^nig  of  wate.s." 
tury  and  to  Italy^^fto"^^    J^^^^^  '°  «>«  «jf  teenth  cen- 
women  were  not  afraid  of  W      ^T  '^''^"  '"«'"  and 
death.     These  are  th^haun ts "  ^rL^^^  ^  '>f«=  and 
Their  memory  lingers  in  iuf    i  ^     ■'  P"»nal  emotions 
and  the  Perfume^^f  th"    wIT"'^  V^'  ^yP""--"- 
traction  to  u.s.  who  know  orZl^'    7*^-"*'^  '''^  «*" 
drama,  and  who  restrict  the  in^n  '!      ^l^  '"  "^^  melo- 
-t  of  a  play.     We  have  to  t,  on^h  ''f  *"  ''^^  '''"^ 
otncr  men  have  felt  because  w!  <  '  "'""^  ''''"SS 

self-conscious,  or  too  feeble  to  LT'/~  """''•  "^  '^ 
selves.  It  is  passion  that  builds^.  ^"^  '^'"^^  °"'- 
.ardens  and  puts  into  nat  J^t^^  ff  h^ 


Let  Not  M.n  Pu,  Asunder 

";f.  but  wc  should  Lr^  a  ■  a?„  ou  "7  "'Jl'  •'»'«  «^e 
And    yet    you  youTBeU-'-    u^^^""^' 
danngly.  ^  "'»'"-     Pctnna   began,  rather 

r-r.'out'-idXrvK^hoS  ^r"-    ''"•  -'y  a 
later  than  the  time  of  ^gr^at  P„'"'''"T  '°  "^  "^^ 
That  8  why,  of  recent  v^arf  r      ?'^"'  ""•*  '^e  Medici 
way^    They  despise,;/^""'/;''  ''.'P'  ""'  "^  people's 
But  I  don't."  despise  myself." 

"I  Icpow  you  don't     Tt,-*'    iu 
pressibly  glad  to  see  you      IVe  feh?h?"  ''™  *>  '"«■ 
little  shade  of  friendship  for  ,^/      ^"'.^°"  ''«d  »°me 
wetelkedofitatOrpingronPaTk'"""  ""'=«  *«  "igh? 

tdl  me  you  were'/vi„g""^Tiere  hari!l"  ""=  «  ''"^^o 
I  didn't  know  even  that-  and  I'v  ^  ^"  ""•«  when 
atout  you     It  wasnTwnd "        '  "'""«'"  »  «"«>  dea" 

like  toXiVJu'i'^eJ  '°iT  ^- «y  so.  because  I 
about  it,  I  mayLy  t^at  „h  '^',  "^^^^  ^e'reTlfaL 
seem  to  me  qSe  «« L  ^'K''*  ""=*'  "^'^  S 
der,  or  I  thought  he  did  I  wS  !^Z  7  '^  '^°'''  'houl- 
Uie  reason  why-.„nless  it  Zs  hl^^'  '  ^  ~"W"'t  see 
Ashuelot,  before  you  werl^^  ■  .V^'  °"e  night  at 
a  fool  I  was.     He'rb^ee^my  Krll  I''  I'™  ^^  ^  ^a 

"VsVJuidlhrkt^l-^^ 
from   this   point,"   Petrinal/^"^  ^"^°^  the  villa 
quillity.  turning  as  shXk?''   ""^  ^PP^-'t  tS^ 

roundTout'tnd'CnTJin  '''^  ^-"^  "^  cypress 
^*"^^----£f-«S^^3pr^H 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

ness  of  bloMom  and  JroTw       <lo»ccndcd.  the  Uvish- 
demess  of  bloom  was  cleft  ^^     !    ?  ^,°*'-     ^^  *«'- 

liness  merely  to  iK  aS  i  w  '"'"'  "^  "'"'=''  '"^.s 
fibres  of  one's  heart ''  ""'  *°  ***'^''  «  '^i*  the 

No  other  service  3  ^"  o^^'Tf^-f  "S^u'"  "'«"• 
?ome  things  beyond  being  iSed  to '  '''  ^ 
human  us^-St.  Peter's  or  Notre  Damlf^  '^"'^'y 
This  IS  one.  I  agree  wiUi  vl„  fu  .  V"""  '"'  -^nce. 
ates  a  feeling  ofXwitv  WeV  ^  "''^  '^"t^  <^^^ 
have  no  emoUons  to  maichTf  If""'  *^"*'  ^'^  "'  ^e 
jve  in  it,  we  should  want  liL  LTr^  *"°^«'  **> 
that  would  force  the  fat^ VK^s  t^"  ^^"^^ 
it  makes  us  sad  "  "'•    ^°  'ook  at 

•To^S"^  ^^f?  *°  ''*'«='*'»  tlie  garden 
=r  tiS'a'^d  Ss'r:rL^el""'*  afked""r'm  rath- 

"  There's  a^t  bv  l?,e  ^  T  *°  '^"  y°»" 
niere  replied,  aTd  pLttlfthr'  °^*  *''^^'"  ^ech- 
had  reached  the  lowesfSf  of  th'/.r  *°  "'  ^hey 
low  them  the  roots  of  -P  vni  V  V'J'^  grounds.  B^ 
plain.  Before  uJ^thl^r  struck  down  towards  the 
empty  Cam™  Ja  On  ^H  "'^^.""'^"g  but  the  open? 
-     -"    '^"^^^•-rarcaSr.r^^rr'^-^^o^e: 


I  Frascati, 


295 


and  far  on  the  westf^  skv- 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
line  the  dome  of  St  PeW=       j 
pie  haze.  ^*-  '^'*^' ^  ™«de  a  dark  spot  i„  the  pur- 

it  is."  f  d?S„i;iLS"^..'';^^.h<'-  wonderful 
ned  as  those  of  an  Lai  T^/'       ^^^  *""«  are  as  va- 
Again  they  iJsTL       ^""""^  ^'^'d."  ^  ''^ 

*-Ieargree^  °T£frr tS'd  "h^^-  ""'^  ^ow 
let  of  poppies  and  the  purine  '^1'  '^^^^^  ^"h  the  scar- 
ther  away  into  tones  of  K  l^yacmths,  merged  f^ 

-^  into  blue  and  mauve  TnTd"'  "'  ^"^  ^-'^had- 
and  violet  m  the  distant  to  j  ''f  ^"""^into  amethvst 
ers-refuges  once  of  the  rivafo    '  ^°'"^-     LonelyTow 
herds-made,  in  the  S;t°"-"' «"d  Colonna  she^ 

!^e  dusty  thread  of  the  o  d  TibnW    '  ^^'^  ^""l-l  ^^ace 

n  places  with  the  blocks  of  Tlva/aTd 'r'''  '""  P^^^" 

sand  years  ago,  and  over  which  nol      '^°'^"  '^°  th°«- 

hearted,  and  it  seemed  to  methlf^"'  ^.°""^  ^"'^  ^'^ht 

ground  hke  this  would  ov^r^owi  m/''"'  °"  "^""^^^ 

296 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
"And  now?" 

Petrina  went  on,  in  a  low  v  ^  ^"^  ""«  ^ut  me  " 

distant  dome  of  St  PeZs     '^'1''^  '^^^  ^^^^  »"  the 
I've  divorced  Harry."  "'  y°"  "«st  be  told. 

"Good  Godl" 
Lechmere's  start  ^t 
he  mastered  himseU  at  o„T''  ""^^  '"voluntary,  but 
.      There  is  nothing  to  be  sfliVI  "  d  .  • 
m  the  same  tranquil  tone     "He  left  '""^'°""""«^' 
year  after  we  were  married-"  '"  '''^^  than  a 

trouble  betJLn  ufthlt  iuld  h«      H  '^'^^^^  "^  «» 
But  h^eft  me  i„  a  wi/ST^^S^irl^r 

neS^-SheTooS  Srd's^Th*"-  '^'^-e  was  no 
•net.  He  had  the  ins«nclL^^™^'^'  ^"^  ^^^"  eyes 
her,  and  she  was  «  for  tt  ^^  "»*  to  question 
thy.  After  all  thf  blame  she  SL  t"'"  °^-  ^'  ^^^P^' 
forting,  too,  to  find  some  one  wh^V°T'  "  ^^^  ^om- 
ed  that  she  had  been  fn  the  .^ong      "°'  *^^^  ^°'-  ^-t" 

Another  lone  silence  fpll  •  o  j  iL 
began  to  speal.  ofTnVif  'thTng^"l'  'T"''-''^'  ^^^ 
out  characteristics  of  the  TaT  t^echmere  pointed 

and  named  the  white  towns  thTcould  h'"  '°  ^^'""«- 
among  the  hills.  *^°"'°  ''e  seen  nestling 

to  be  gofng  ata?"^  "°''"'"  *^  -d,  at  last.    "I  ought 
297 


L«t   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

thai:  Z:z  Sa^ss'iirir  ";^*  ^-  ^^  — nt 

felt  old;  both  ^re  "r^  wi,'"  *"'?  '"^^^''-  Both 
mutual  con.preWion.^'TK  ^^  a  »  ^'"'^  °^ 
tion  that  trouble  haH  ,„=j   V^  *  '^"^  assump- 

ordinary  frieS  From  tt  o„'"f  T'^'T^  -""^^  *an 
ed  a  silent  offer  and  an  e^u"f,*°  ^"  ?"'^'- *ere  pass- 
consolation  and  aid  ^      ^    ''*'"*  acceptance,  of 


CHAPTER  III 

Petrina  felt  no  awkwardness  in  the  situation  until 
as  tL.y  were  leaving  the  grounds  of  the  Villa  Lech 
mere  urged  her  to  lunch  with  him.  '     ""''" 

Rejm^"    '"'"•"  '^'  ^'"''^'  "''»*  I  «">  going  to  the 
"  You  will  find  it  humbler  at  the  SybiUa  but  we  shall 
lunchm  the  open  air,  in  the  shadow  of  the  ruh^^i^mS 
rl't  Xr°"'  °',"^^  '"°^*  ^'°"°-  Sin^EuroS' 

L€  r  F- -  -Lw-Ses-^r J 

be  so  bad.     You  must  come  " 

the  ReLina'^"""""'  ^  ^^"^^^  ^^^"^  *«  ^'''e^  at 

„,J,'iiy7??,'^''"°"°'^^"'*'=°"ntermandthem    Mean   " 

musUu^ ;ue:r'^°  "^^  "^"^"^  ^"'^  -^^  -•'^.^o- 

mZtut'i^'"'' '•=""•     You  are  very  kind,  Mr.  Lech. 
She  was  beginning  to  feel  uncomfortable     For  the 
g-st  time  she  saw  that  her  position  was  a  difficuh  oJe 
were  both  fV'^  ^-f '  ''^^  ^  '''^"^"^  woman     V'ey 
ThZr  rh     ^.l  •"*'  '*■  ^^^""^  to  her  suddenly  as  if  in 

are  acting  according  to  the  rules  of  a  book  of  eUquStT 
299 


'"'  N»>   Man  Pu,  Asunder 

I  insist.  I  am  going  to  Wk  If.^  ^"°"'^'-  ^^'^^s, 
you  back  to  Rome,  Tnd  shaU  Lf  "■  ^°''-  ^  '^^  ^ke 
safely  at  the  Grand  HoteP'         ^'^''^  y°"  'i"  I  ^  you 

but  i?/silr:it;s  t'-  ?r"'<»  -t 

ease;  while  his  unobtrusive  aTten^„  "^'^^  '^^^  ^««'  at 
eminine  love  of  being  ^ervrf  It  T  ^^^^^''^  ^°  ^er 
taken  care  of  once  aga^l  PetWni'  ^^  ^°  ^°°^  *"  ^c 
only  mental.  For  thfcommL  7  f  ^  '"dependence  was 
have  a  man  at  hand    %h  ^^^^  "^  "^^  «he  liked  to 

a  difficult  social  c^mpliSorw*  f^'^  °^  '^-^'"^ 
responsibility  of  feeing  a  Waiter  or  ™'^''"'' ^^°'»  "^^ 
or  registering  her  luggage  at  a  s^L'^^'^lu^  '=^^'"«" 
gaged  a  courier  just  to  hav^  *1^       .    f'     ^''^  ^^^  en- 
hands;  but  the  vlry  necesJfv^r;  ^'^^  ^^'"^  °«  her 
It  forced  home  the  fac^wf/l  ^u°  u  T^  ^^  ^as  galling, 
to  be  familiar, Tha    she  ^as^^t    "?'  ^""^  ^°^  ^<=«'^"n 
ing  in  Italy  she  had  drif7^   ^^u^  !'°"^     ^'n*:^  aniv- 
Castellamare,  Wnto  ^T°"' ^°"f'°"-     ^^P^-' 
chosen  only  because  she  t^u  "^^'^  «t°PPing-places 
to  lay  her  head     W  Its"  fLnT  ^  '^^"^'  ^''^^-■n 
But  now,  since  LecZ^re  had  crn.  ^T  "°  ™°'-«  ^  her. 
seemed  to  have  comeTnto  eSnce     Sh"  ''''^-  ^  "°"'' 
put  the  thought  into  words  ft  was  tc^  n    °"  '^  ".°* ''^^''^ 
even  to  entertain  -  K,.*  •*  °°  "ew,  too  darinp 

sit  therein:  thhad.w  o  ^e  sT.'  '1^^  ^^  P'--""^° 
to  feel  that  across  the  gulf  of  Ser  '  ^v"^'"  '^""^'  «nd 
stretched  out  to  help  her  '°«^hness  a  hand  was 

So,  looking  on  the  gorge,^around  which  Tivoli  clam- 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Of  both." 

mZcenC^'^  '"^  "^'^^  ^'^  ^''""  --days  they 

"Then  tell  me  first  of  her  " 
success"  ''"  °""  P°'"'  °''^''=-  «he  has  made  a  great 
And  from  yours?" 

that  at  last  all  she  claimS  fat  eSSd^'  ^"^^  ^ -ell 
And  what  about  Emmy?" 

or'lS^^lfher^'^ireToeTnt  :o'^*  ^7  r  V^°"^''' 

the  candle  to  her.     AnJre^  sh^:,  "hSl  ffi? 
301 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

Then  why  doesn't  she?" 
J  can  t  quite  make  her  out  T  J,=„  .. 
know,  for  two  years  and  more  W.  ^fV"^  ^"'  y°" 
our-our  troubles,  we  are  less  con^/'^'^', ''"'  ^^  «'"=« 
to  be.  Of  course  it  «,»?  ,  confidential  than  we  used 
tWnk  I  had  bS  unWnd" t?Ha'"'^'  *^^*  ^^e  shouU 
Phrey's  marriage  was  a  shcSc?^'  ^^"^  ^^'^  Hum- 
raake  her  a  long  visit  at  n^-     f  '^l^'     ^  «™  going  to 

^  "And  how  has  the  ^irM..^J  *"  ^'=*>  °«»er. 

^o.J'e  a  beauty.     She  m^  ^vt  tw"  tv^'^^  "^f^^^^ 
Emmy  writes  that  thev  »,=         •  ^^^  "°^- 

o  her  becoming  somi  lort^f ^^^^ ^  .^i^  consent 
step;  but  perhaps  it  is  the  ea«L»  ^^"^  »  mad 

situation.  Hip^lyta  refuSs  ILT*?'  ''^  «  ""ffi^ult 
father;  and  Humphrey's  i^L  °!"i^'y  *°  s*  her 
meeting  her  by  a'cciTen  n  a  S  '"f  °^.  ^-«-« 
that  he  prefers  to  know  she^s  sh„t  "  drawing-room 
a  convent. "  "^  '^  ®hut  up  out  of  danger  in 

"TnH  H°^'  ^  ^"PP°'^'  '■«  still  at  Eton?" 
And  domg  very  badlv     Thtt  ■ 
worry  to  them.     He  seenL    ^T* '^  ^"°ther  source  of 
but  in  growing  old^rTe  hln'tl  t«n2""^  '"«-  "^n 
his  childhood.     He's  ei  Jh*»  "^^"^  the  promise  of 

do  Mter  when  he  J^f^^Xd'  ^?f -^^^^  h^Pe  he'l 
he  should  be  following  the  eS^i,/*,  l^.  <='"^°"«  that 

-^^PJ^  :Z  r^^-  °^  ^e  visitation 

"Ti^r/w^^a^sr^ren' I  d?di^^:?- ^^^^^^^ 

-ha  thing  as  sin.    I  do£k"nlSa7  J  t  ^t!  b^I 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
as  I  grow  older  I  begin  to  see  th»#  *u       • 
tree  of  the  knowledg!  "f  g<^  ^  ""f  •  «/*rtainly  a 
the  garden  of  life  ^dih^      ^  ^'^  ">  ^^  °"dst  of 
toucS  it  lest-"    '  *"''  "»**  ''^  »"st  not  eat  of  it  nor 

ivy-hung,  clematisrclad  ™^;-         1  ^^^°«f  «"°^  the 
Gregoriano  and  the  caterac^^  r^'  ^^'T'^'  *^^  P°nte 

i-estwhat?    he  repeated. 

lately  of  Adam  a^d  Eve  briL^"^"^  ^  ^^^  ^eal 
Paradise.  It  seems  so  haT  ^""^  °"'  °^  «>^ 
Why  is  it  that  when  °  "^  ^'*  ^°  inevitable, 

stay?"  '  '^'""^  ^^    are   m  Eden  we  cannot 

"Have  you  been  there?" 
r'etnna  colored 

;;Have  you?"  she  asked,  in  return 
seem  not  £3  '       '*"""  '^"^^«''  ^^  an  effort  to 

wanfinr;^trL'r^°'"^*°^— you  i 

You  do,  toTl  tWnk  '^°^  '^'  ""^'"■"^  °^  those'^Unes! 
"I  don't  like  Milton     Hp'q  t^         l  • 

"I  wasn't  thinking  of  M,lton^""'''l'"  ^™^«'" 
„g  „  -^iS  01  Aiiiton  so  much  as  of  you  and 

The  expression  in  his  eyes  troubled  her 

takingtVh'^r  waSr^-?;,f„«7'';  '""^  -^'-™«'. 

andIshouIdbeo„themai:h?f^'''^?-    ^^-^  P^P'^ 
Rome  before  sunset  "  "^^  ^^  ^^  &«t  back  to 

"Your  people  are  going^J^^^,  ,,^.^^^  ^^  ^^  ^_ 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

Tlira^^  yo"  are  coming  i„  another  with  n,e.    It  is 
ail  arran^     The  horses  are  at  the  door.  " 

Again  Petrma  protested  faintlv   but  «.,<,■„  .u 
consc  ous  of  the  luxurv  nf  to   ■  ^    "  ^^^  ^*« 

care  of  her  ^       '^'""^  ^°™«  °»e  '»  take 

And  yet  that  night,  alone  in  her  apartments  in  R^.„„ 
she  was  not  fr^  from  an  indefinable'Sf  ^olch  ' 

hers^r'^^  Wt^intTA^'"  ^/«'""^'  ^^ 

always  made  to  seem  ridiculous^ven  t^h^leW  C" 
were  alone  in  Rome;  they  were  {ri«n^rf«  f ;,  *  ^ 
natural  U.an  that  they  shLine/rfetCfof  ^ch 

stiiew^it/ir;;';  KL«fV?  • 

nev-srn.%rbS^fL---^^^^^^^^^ 
304 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

only  as  -rroundX  UieirrX' '^'^  T'^  ^''"««- 

*.,  f 'f^'y  ugly  and  commonplace!  r  J  '°^''  "  ^ 
that  they  bore  the  bodv T  r  i  l''^''^  «"  'Wnk 
that  St.  Peter  and  cSfens  and  cT  ^''^"^  °^^^  "'  "^ 
to  s  ng  and  pray  to  jZTchrii  "'""''"  "^^^  «'-«", 

-/''Smt  SuS  ^TrT  "^t^  ^'"^-- 

glass-wmdow  vision  of  the  saint's  R„^u  the  stained- 
way,  when  I  jolt  over  the^tont  °"*  ^^en  I  come  this 
blank  walls  which  Sve  no  h  ?  *  T"  *^^^^  '''^k, 
and  rather  restrain  than  st.mut''^"  ^H  Pagination 
I  reahze  that  the  firsfbe  ^ve  t  •  '°",^^""'^'"^«ons 
and  women  with  flesh  and  I  '^  °V^^^  ^^'  »"-" 
7JT.^\^^  Who  overc-t  t^v^^  ^^  ^^ 

rn^n^SSfSj^^    I^dn-tknowi," 
Hut  no  active  faith." 
I  shouldn't  venture  to  sav  ♦»,=*     %, 
yourhusband'.s-Ibegyour'^dnn  ri,  »^  ^^'P'^'  J^^e 
-were  among  the  founder.^  A    '  ''.'^^Ha'^y  Vassall's 
ism.    It's  hard  to  s£ke  off  he  J'T'"'-."  ^P'^^opalian- 
they  lose  their  hold  on  you ''"^  "'^"'  ^^  ^hen 

Chi,?ch'X""   ^'  "  "^^^"^  "'^t  keeps  the  Christian 

s^^arS^rdeL^wTos^V^^^^  -^^  «-" 

Catacombs,  have  given  this  wl.  *'T.P'"^  out  to  the 
-ust  have  found  fom^tfi  ^^  ^ji',"!"/  ^^-tity. 


305 


very  vital  to  have  made 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

if ZJ'l!"*  "!^'^*T  ^  '"^^y  *"*  *»«♦'  'Whatever 
whTt.^  .?  ^c.'f  ^'^^y"  ^"^-  «"<*  that  the  power 
which  builds  and  fills  the  churches  is  not  a  mere  here^ 

£(&"*"'  """^  *  "^^  ^°'"  **''"'•*  *="''    -  °"* 
"  I'm  surprised  to  hear  you  say  that.    You  seem  to  me 
otherwise  so  broad-minded." 

JuJ^7  fu  •''«^Mrs.  Vassall,  that  the  narrowness 
belongs  to  the  good  people  who  insist  on  denying  that 

discerned  by  the  naked  eye.  I  beheve  there  u,  a  tele- 
scope. 

usid  Me^"*  ^°  ^'  '"*''  "  ^  "^^  ^^  *"y  °"*  ^•«'  •'«'' 
•'I  have." 

Where?'^H^*?"'^'*  '""*  **'*  incredulous.     "When? 

wl!i  w'  *"T^  *'^?  °^  y""""  questions ;  not  the  third. 

Chu^hnf  I?  4^^1  *■■!*, ^"^^^^f"-  Where?  In  the 
Lhurch  of  St.  Stephen  m  Vienna." 

knoi"^  how?    I  insist.    I  am  keenly  interested  to 

•*  •'  "^jje  "oraent  may  come  when  I  shall  tell  you.  But 
It  isn  t  to-day. 

"How  queer  you  Christian  people  are  I  You  keep 
your  religious  experiences  hermetically  sealed  You 
remind  me  of  Gentian  de  Bohun's  mother,  who  used  to 
belong  to  a  sect  m  which  it  wa^  forbidden  to  speak  of 
their  doctrines  before  non-believers.     I  never  could  draw 

°!l?  *  j^??-^^^^"  "^^^^  '*  "^^^  he  believed  in,  or  what 
good  It  did  him  to  believe  it.  He  seemed  to  think  me  too 
much  of  an  outcast  to  hear  anything  about  it.  He 
hugged  his  religion  to  himself  until  I  grew  to  be  nearly 
jealous  of  It.  I  see  that  you  would  do  the  same.  Iflevar 
had  much  to  do  with  you  I  am  certain  your  religion 
306 


Let  Not  Man  Put   Asunder 

Catoi'""''  *^-^'''°^'  "" ''°  '•>«  ««te  of  entry  to  the 

w^  tt"£:;htfThrpr'.4^'''t  ^^^'^^^  "^ 

tianity  built  a  great  temple  here?  U^^  ^"^^  ^•'"'^ 
on  this  spot  I  should  have  mv  St  pJ  *"'"  ^^^- "  '* 
on  the  Vatican     And  flL?^  St  Peter's,  rather  than 

privilege  of  tr^dinT^Jn  fh7f  T^'"^  l*°  ''^«  ^°'  the 

before  them  with  a  torch     Thi    u     ^^*  '"""''  "'^n' 
men's  laughter  beWni Them        "^  *''"'''*  ^""'^^'P^  «««! 

the  monk  came  back  anH  ♦ilTiHT^^*  ^i-^." 
v.1.  two  young  ^w^t^^^ t/ ^i^  ^n^.^^ 

Lelh^mer"  ""^   ^^  '"'*   '^^  comprennent,"   said 

tui'iffl  Te  rntxr^t'  rf :''  ->-- 

b/rhe^r£L•t^aT'Sn''"p^^^' ^^^^^^^^ 

in  the  dark.  ^*""^  ^"'^  Lechmere  were 

"  I'm  afraid, "  she  whisnprml     "  t   * 
I  hate  it. "  wuspered.       Let  us  go  out  again. 

307 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
Then  ahe  felt  Livhmere  take  her  hand. 

"Thl^.°?i^  ,°u  *   "»""'«."  he  baid,   reaMurinrfy 
There  a  the  hght  cominK  back  "  """unngiy. 

retumT  Tlrlr'""*™r  ''"  ''""'^  ""«'  «>«  monk 
Tnd  TaHerie^w'ere^'Shrc^'  °"  '°  ^'''^''  ""^  =-™»-- 
^hftuVu  '"'•*'''  u*"'  "*  *"  "'«'  Through  her  glove 
knew  ,t  meant  nothmg,  that  it  could  mean  nothings 
£     The'^lr'f'b'  "  •"''*  '."'*"  ""*'"«  fri«htenf^' 

tir«,t?irria'^  're  "^'^ "-'  -"'  «*  ^-^'  - 

„n^  ^'  way  back.to  Rome  she  talked  gayly  and  ig- 

qd^o^%'re\J'L'rth?h^^^^^^^  »»-  -  ^^Hen  he 

h.  I  T^  *°  '''"  ■''°"'"  "•"=  <^«"«J'  carelessly,  just  as 
he  was  tummg  away,  'that  I  leave  for  fK  '^ 
morraw.  I'm  so  sorry  I  sha'n't  see  you  again  but  no 
doubt  we  shall  meet  somewhere  some  time  You've 
bm,  so  extremely  kind  that  it's  rather  banal  to  Jy 
^I     .r?u'  •'"*  l^°  '^y  "  '""t  *e  same."  ^ 

b„/*^  'i!  "  ^"''^*"  decision?"  he  asked,  with  brows 
kiiitted,  as  he  came  back  to  her  again 

No;  not  at  all,"  she  answered,  ui.t.uthfullv     "  I'„« 
been^a  little  tired  of  Rome  for  a  week  anTmore^ "      '  "' 

vn7'^l  '"'JA^""^^,  ^^^^  ^'^  '^  "  hadn't  been  for 

^  "^p..^''^  ^^^^-  with  compunction 

"Shln^"      J"f    *^   qualification,"    he   said,    dryly 

Sshall  you  be  long  in  Florence?"  ^^' 

"Only  to  pass  through." 

"On  your  way  to — " 

"I  don't  know  yet.     I'm  thinking  of  London,  but 
308 


Let  Not  Mar   Put   Asunder 

I'm  also  UunkinK  of  Moscow,  and  of  a  dozen  other 
places  that  lie  between." 

"•The  world  was  all  before  them  where  to  choose 
their  place  of  rest, ' "  Lechnicrc  quoted 

a  Z^h  ^'rt^T",!!!^"'  *^"''''''"'  "•"=  ""'"''"J,  with 
a  laugh.  That  n  the  nearest  inUmation  I  can  irive 
you  of  ray  future  halting-place.  So  good-bye,  and 
thank  you  once  again." 

Lechmere  took  his  dismissal  quietly-so  quietly  that 
when  Petnna  went  to  her  room  she  was  a  little  vexed. 


CriAPTER  IV 

"Pange  lingua  gloriosi 
<-orporis  mysterium." 

«k^a"Tof  SaS^^^^^^^^^  ''^^  -ds  rose 

rolled  out  the  solemn^  n?Jn  '^1°'^-     ^he  organ 

ffival  harmonies  ^LfttuT^rf  P"'»^«ve  m!d" 
-ere  singing  as  they  o^y  ^^f^^^^W^  Catholics 
vobon  are  instinctive.     Up  to  th^  ^"'"^  ^"'^  "^^ 

had  sat  far  back  i„  the  church    'i^/r'  ""-"^"t  ^^^ 
gation  crowding  in  aL  =k    '.   fP°^  ^''"'^  ^e  congre- 
buried  in  her  own  thojhfs    "Ih"'^  '?^''''-    ^^e  fat 
m  the  sanctuary  came  to  her  onl         ''°i''  °^  *«  P^est 
the  ^ovements'^anrgenufleSr  f  ll'*^"*  "'"™>»^-- 
scarlet  cassocks  and  cXs  Wh    ^  *^  ^'=°'yt««'  « 
meaningless  to  her     Sh^  w.^"'"'  T"^  ''"=e,  were 
many  lights  about  the  4h  altlr^^^  J  m"''='°"«  °f 
dies  carried  to  and  fro     To  thi^  :,  Tl  ^^"""^  <=^- 
atention.     She  had   not  coi^To   1^' V^!  ^^^^  "° 
afternoon  Benediction     She  hL         ''    ^^^Phen's  for 
why.     But  now  as  th^  ».,         ^  come-she  knew  not 
Latin  words  w^re  f^^J^"^  T'"'  '^'  '^'^-     The 
thing  in  them  mo^eah^/'^th,^-'.  ^'''  '°-^y  ~ 
hngua/    It  was  likTtSerl^-     "']°"^  **»""■      -Pan^e 
tragedy  and  isasl?    rf      ^?  °^  ^'^'^  ^J^nhals  ovfr 
It  was  hke  the  shout  of  fw  T^"'.  -i-^'mur 
own  defeat.  ^  ''°^t  «^hose  faith  will  not 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asund 


er 


ooked  up  the  d.m  £:He  at  the  kneeling,  singing  mul- 
titude. "Some  ,.i  n..m  ar.  ecstatic.  Most  of  Cm 
are  sincere.     Bu,  what  &,  th  y  mean?    Was  he  rieS 

abled  the  Roman  .!^v.::  ;.  he  martyrs  is  still  here?" 
And  then  she  passed  into  reverie  again. 

"  Nobis  datus,  nobis  natus. 
Ex  intacta  virgine." 

The  stately  hymn  rolled  on,  but  Petrina  was  going  back 
over  the  drive  along  the  Appian  Way  to  theCatafombt 
till  she  came    for  the  hundredth  time,  to  the  momen 
wh«i,  in  the  darkne.ss,  Lechmerehad  touched  herhTnd 

'•fl^itTITf       '^  ^^^^^  ^  ^"^  ^'°°e/'  she  mused' 

that  I  thmk  so  much  about  him.     It  is  because  no  one 

dse^shows  any  interest  in  me  that  I  have  come  to  look 

ti^rl^f  ^t^  '"'*  '",  '?^^  "^'^  ''™-  She  faced  that  que^ 
tion  frankly,  and  knew  that  she  had  not  yet  reach^ 
the  moment  when  she  could  love  any  one;  but  she  wS 
aware  of  some  sympathy  between  them  which  mide 
her  glad  when  he  was  near. 

H«  loneliness  weighed  on  her  once  more.     In  leav- 
ing Rome  she  had  felt  herself  setting  out  again  o^a 
teckless    sohtary  sea.     Florence,  Verona,  fnd  W 
bruck  had  been  stopping-places  on  the  road  to  nowhS^ 
A  certain  time  must  be  filled  in  before  the  date  of  W 
visit  to  Orpington  Park,  and  to  pass  those  Ss  sh^ 
must  wander.    She  would  go  to  Vienna,  she  Jd   be^ 
cause  she  wanted  clothes.     But  she  had  not  forgotte^ 
the  remark  made  by  Lechmere  in  connection  with  sT 
Stephens     She  remembered  the  lofty  German  GotWc 
church;  she  had  often  noticed  its  gree'^i-ti  J  itV^rf 
roof  when,  on  other  visits  to  Vienna,  she  had  bkn ToS 
3" 


^«  No,  Man  p„  A,„„d„ 

S  and  .',,*'  ""^^^^  the  cathedral  vf  ''""''^  ^°  ^"^ 
'"&,  and  she  seated  herself  =,7*i!        ^^^Pers  were  end- 

*he  congregation.     Slervt^o'f T  !!;'''  '^^^^^ 
i  can  understand  "  sh^VJ      ?    benediction  be^an 

from  heaven     Tl,»,    ■  ^^""«1  aisles  a  voicp  «,^  •  ^ 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 
M  ^r  '""^  "^^  °"'  "'  ^'  Stefansplatz  he  ac 
^'i^U^7  ""^I'u   ^H  "^'^'  ^""  '^^y  had  exchanged 
hope  you  dKi^d,.'     ^  '  ""  ^"'^  ^"""""J  y°«-     I 

.ty  which  is  at  on'eSV  fniSi ttr  '' Ttr' 't 
you  wou  d  be  in  Paris  by  this  time  "  ^  ^^""^'^^ 

No;  I  ve  come  to  Vienna  from  Innsbruck  " 
"  Vto"''^*  to  Innsbruck  from-?" 

^'And  to  Verona  from—?" 
"Florence." 

""mowSu  "^^""^^'^^^^^  «--"•" 

goL^trCi';^.^  "^'"^^'  '""'^  ^■•-  «°-  if  one  is 
I'jL^asn't  going  to  Vienna." 

^1  Yes,  thanks." 
"You're  quite  well?" 
"Perfectly." 

"EnSely"" '■■  ^'^""'"'  ''"^  ^tisfactory?" 

offilk  aS?'^""'  ""^  ^"""""^   '^"h   the  customs' 
"None  whatever." 

"You're  comfortable  at  the  Bristol?" 
In  every  way. 

"•rtTll'^^'^'^  "°*'''"^  *^t  I  <=an  do  for  you?" 
Thank  you  very  much,  but  I  don't  think  there  is  " 
313 


Let  Not    Man   Put  Asunder 
"You're  not  lonely?" 

■'I'm  on  foot,'"  she  saw      'P'*'  ''"'""°"'  ^*°PP«J 
back  to  the  hotel  "  ^  ^^  "^"^  ""y  carriage 

thriSChe"'-''  '"^-     "^  ^'^  ^^y^-^  left  you  at 

ca2S  K?'  ""'^  '"^'  "'-^    ^  will  you  call  a 
"  Let  us  '.valk  " 

-^^^'iL'KiS^  she  said,  a.  they 
know  that  I  was  staying  therer  "°^  '^"^  J'"" 

yo/:j  ^Jt^^Jy^^  at  Innsbruck  that 

.oufl^^i^tt^^^^^^^       V~  they  to. 

in  yerona. "  ^  '^  y°"  ^^  ^^^  Hdtel  de  Londres 

"Then  you  have  followed  me  " 
^  t  said  so  at  first." 
"May  I  ask  why?" 

"^u^V"  ^°'"^  '"  ''e  offended?" 
Ihat  depends." 

ablut^l"  •'"'  ^°"  '''-•  ^''^  ^~  that  I  was  anxious 
"Why?" 

„  But  what  harm  could  come?"  ^  "" 

^j^,i  don  t  know.     I  was  anxious  about  vou.     That's 

314 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
-y^Iuggage  had  been  not  unduly  ta.ed  at  the  fron- 

w^e  4'  fj  Stty  Intti^ers  '"^  1^7  '"^^  ^"^ 

noyed,  don't  mind  savin^r  sn    k^  -  /°"  "'■«'  ««- 

^mean  to  keep  youT^! ^r  le'T^^,^^^^^  ru""'' 

-  uTu"  ^'^  ^^^  '"  °ther  hands  "       ^  ^^  ^  ''""^ 

to  a  3hoj>window  fuToIbo^'sT  T  '*'  ''i'=  'P°^^ 
ta  ves  incrusted  with  red  stones'  Z'"'  ^"^  P^^' 
of  It  that  one  isn't  tempted  bv  it  And  veVT  '°r  """'^ 
home  I  am  ahvays  sorrv  I  didn'  K  ^  "'*"■""  ^  ''^ach 
so  usef uny  for  ,ftt,e  X 'fc^ri^L^^-     "  ^"'"^^  ^ 

Shf  ^a^ef  tVJitff  moSrni  ^'f^^^^^^^  itself, 
treat  the  situation  '"*'  ^"'^  "^^  h°^  best  to 

lyfa^Tew  SurJaw'  gS^^'^f  '^^  ^^'^«''  ^^^P'" 

"^SioSt^^r^js^??^^*^-^"-" 

perie^fsLi tk'"''^  ""*  ^"-«-  *°  I-ople-s  ex- 

;;So  I  supposed.     And  yet  that  day-" 
WelUtVaS"'  "^  ^^•-  ---ty  was  «.„^. 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

always  been  raK^  V^uTTo^^'     V' 
were  eoine  to  Hp  nno  tu-        ■.   ,  "  ^^"^  as  if  you 

OneMn^oSTfor^eX-'     """  '"°'"^  ^"°'^- 
„  And  finds  only  shallows.     Thanks  " 

"  R  ;  *u    °"^  "'"^  "P^n  a  rock. " 

sJw^v^ru7t£Rt'r--r'othc  Bristol, 
tired?"        ^"^  "P  **>^  R'ng-Stmsse  a  bit?    Or  are  you 

win^^'^^XrL^JhlAilttt'^'^'^^"^*^^         I 

first  to  speak        ^  ^  ^''^"'^-     ^^t^na  was  the 

"Srinr  whaTiiihr  "r^T^.*" "-  i-*  -w?" 

ened  in  you  ^ntl:  ^S^Tit  >"^^*  '  ^"^  ^^- 
For  whom?"  •'" 

"For  me." 
"For  what?" 
"I  think  you  know  " 
"When  a  man  and  a  woman  have  made  an  unhappy 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 


'my  sympathy  is 


"rS:f C"''  ''^'""^'  '"^«-"^' 

"But  secondly  for  him." 
J^erhaps. " 

"I  should  never  ask  more  than  that  " 
^iia:^'''  "^"^  ^'^^"'-  ^-  a-  exacting  or  easHy 
"I  am  both." 

yet/^hTlTm  ISremdf  t  *°  1f^'  Z''^'  '  ''--'t  -^^ 
on  my  hehal,     Tw^uifthXltr  ^""^""'^^ 
With  a  request  not  to  do  it  again  " 
Petnna  colored,  but  laughed.  ^ 

^sure  to  bring  jXlt^^eLT„J„T^i",?  """^"^' 

very  careful."  '  ^  ""'"^s  are,  I  am  obliged  to  be 

cir;?rtfnTefir::h"fr"r^--    Ther^ 
matter  how  innocent  you  a^e'"     '""  ^"^^^  «"'"y'  «° 

coloI.'shtTasltSbvt'  ''^'"'"'  ^'^'^  «  ''-per 
she  enjoyed  the  shorrrlw  f         Presence,  even  though 

tified  thislt?  tef  Ltri''"''^-  Shewasmy^s- 

said  good-bye.     He  dM  nn?^^  .u^  T"*"  '""""y  ^•'^n  he 

in  Vienna,  nor  inquire!  1   1  j^"  '*="^*^  °^  her  stay 

go  afterwards.    Hflefthera^tb  '^'T'/""  '^'  '"^«"' '" 

that,  wherever  she  wenMhev  ^u"^V*  ^"'  ""derstood 

But  before  returnTn^  to  b!        "'''  '"'^*  ^S''''"- 

urgent  telegram  t™ Emir.  H    "^^  P"*"««  ^^nt  an 

aHowedtocLe\tfS„„tmortSay^^^^"^  '"  '^ 
317 


CHAPTER  V 
O^T«"^«y  again  in  England 

her  tired  spirit  in  th^Sce  "^Hhr'  ^'''"^  ''P°^  tor 
She  had  arrived  from  \^e„na  oL  th""'^^"''^  ^"""t^^- 

-vSLTthTdtTi^^F^^^ 

shadow  of  thfgrXrtrr'  ?:  -^^^-^^"^  ^^^^  the 
her  hostess,  who  was^^,  .  ^^*""a  ^^s  waiting  for 
other  end  of  the°t:racr  rlf^  ta'u  """^''^^y  ^'^^ 
the  nusts  hanging  over  ,u!  ,  f  "^™°°n ''ght  made 
hawthom^^^/f  over  the  landscape  golden.     The 

wUh  the  delicate  o^o^TsS^' '"'  ""  ^'^  "^  ^"^ 
~!^^ll:i^.  "«^'  Where  the  wooded 
at  herself  for  having^nonforh^J^"^.-  ^^-^ondered 
for  New  Hampshire  She  th"  ^e^  "^ual  spring  longing 
dared  at  herself  still  more  HetV  Yff ?"'  ^^^  -»- 
It  was  almost  as  if  she  had  n.vi  , '"^^  ^'°'»  ''«'■  hfe. 
the  achmg  resentment  wi^  S  ^°\"  ''™-  ^ven 
his  memory  was  nearly  Jone  '^^  ''^<'  P'^^erved 

able  Imll^'^Z  l^foftr^n-  ■-■*  -  -'^efin- 
at  sea-very  intimate  whiLttivov  ^"^-^^^ips  formed 
before  one  has  had  time  to  s^v^^^K  '^"''  ''"*  ««''«1 
She   was   surprised  at  it^l^-''^"" 

I  Jt.     She  was  surprised  at 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
tr^-     "'^  ^^'  -*  -^'-tand  her  own  indiffer- 

Keate'sname."  "'"si  oe    wnt  in  water,'  like 

7?yiS^;;:i^,vijad^      ^„„^^^ 

Considering  W  she  h.  '"^  ^"°''  ^  ''^^'^  °^  ^^  "' 
had  lasted  it  wVaJm„,f  k"'^'[^  ^''''^  her  troubles 
to  feel  so  soon.  '™°'*  humiliating  to  have  ceas5 

tinu5Tot!S  '"a^oJcTha's'H  ^"T'"  «"«  -"- 
Humphrey  rather  than  1  AhJ^'  '''^"'"  ^"^  "^^^er  to 
come  a  model  motha-  and  J^  f"'^  ^^^  has  be- 
Who  wouw  everhavrihrute''"  '^'""'^  ^^^  ''-3^- 

-id  anf  ereT''ral?t!;rtr%n^°-  ♦»  '""^ 
her  as  she  advanced  notfneth«fu  u'""^  ^^''^hed 
«8r  gray  and  that  the  n~?*  •  ^"  *'^""  ^as  grow- 
lo^nts  youthfulnet         P'""^'  ^'^'^"^  ^ace  had  quiTe 

Petri.;!*  ^omm'n'rf  "'^^'/J'it"?  "■"  "°*  ^"^^  away." 

"'?^^^K^toi?^«"^^^^^ 
cned,  assKme'^rer     ''TJn'"T'  "-^"^^  ''^  ^ohun 
fee  that  you  have  r^come      r"'^"T^^"'""^*<' 
wait  at  Vienna,  after  vouT,nnH  *u  T  '°^'^''  y°"  didn't 
^  "  You  don't  know  what  i7mp     "!  ^°"  ^''^  f'^" 
*o  have  had  this  hluJe  a1  L  S:  .*.°  '"^'  ^-"^  d-'". 

ask4lS:&^t'sy^,:S",i;^t^  de  Bohun 
"Oh,  from  ev^thinSnm  f    '^^^  *^  ^^  ^ings. 
-«H  and  from^iTmoS  a^'^''  ^"^  ''°*^'«'  -nd 
319 


^«»  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 


y^:?™"  Jl\tV;:^?,T  n^''-"  and  .i„e  one 
„  Wouldn't  you?" 

P^a^^e  in  America,  they'Tid^^ui"^''^^^  having  taken 
When  mvifations  came  Z  /  ^"T  ^"^"^  ■*  ovfr  he^ 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 
ply  farcical.     Rut  all  »!,„»  ■ 
well  received."  ""'  "  °''^'  ""W-  and  she  is  veo^ 

Bue  I've  had  n.^^^  S„ei^f  ^°'  '->'-''  "-t  point. 
•*  O   Wnaf  ?"     Tu 

trina's  question  thanThcThowT  •""'^^'"^'''  '"  P- 
bands"""'  position  of  won,en  who  divo.e  their  hus- 
"Ah  I" 

spect."  "^  mterest  me  to  hear  in  what  re- 

^istttZT(^TJCln:  °'  '!'^^'  '»>--  a  cW 
;; Of  course."  '""°''=°*  «nd  'he  guilty  wiiT" 

world"Uws  nXn-gldur  ''T,  "  "°''^-     ^he 
Even  where  it  does  know  k  Z    ".^'"'  ^"''  ^"gs. 
remember.     It  sees  a  womkn  1T^  '.'^^^^  "'• ''  d°e«n't 
about  without  one.     iTTonlv  1     '^  ^  ^"^'^"•1  S°«g 
here  and  there  who  s  ops  ?o   ^Jl'^l^""'"'''  '"''  ™«» 
«me  to  the  mass  of  the  Lnle  w    '"^^:     ^'  '«  ^"  «>e 
the  woman  has  committed^Si  ^  T^,'"     ^n  any  case, 
created  scandal  and  tTken.h.     I?''*  °^  sins-she  has 
her  troubles.     For  that  theJeifn   ^  ^^"'^  '"''^•^^'  »' 
there  is  discrimination     T^ke  ^J^"^?"'  ^^^"  ""^ 
faan  and  myself.     !„  eauitv  ,^5  the  instance  of  Gen- 
hers.     In  society  he"sT St^f  r"'""  '^  be«ertha„ 
further  still.     sL  to  a  J^,  ^n      "  K™""'-     ^  ^'"  ^° 
She  ,s  Humphrey's  wife    wh^T     ''^''^  "°"«  ^t  all. 

werenotforthecMdrenlmi^t  ^T  r'^^'     «  it 

name. "  '"^^"  ^  ""ght  as  well  take  my  maiden 


"Are  you  sure  you  are 


not 


321 


exaggerating,  Enuny 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

^If  wrtCS.S'ff '""^  "'  '"•'  «-  vie. 
U  would   be  hnrri  („ 

a  time,  though  it's  all  pa  J  „„""''  *|th  weeping  many 
■ny  l«r,ion.  When  I  ^  "°"^' ""''  '  '^•k'"  'o  accept 
mean  on  y  the  eenpr..!  "'t  '■'>''  ^member  I  don't 

London.  I  .n -af  th^^'w^'KV''  '^l  fi-'-bom  "n 
comes  in  contact  with  anvvvh""*'"^,""'  P«»P"«  °"»-- 
what  light  do  you  su  ,Le  th  ■'"  "1''  «"y''°'^'  I" 
"umphrey  de  Bohun  rfaLT/'  ""-''.  ^''y'  «■*• 
who  sinned  against  him  ^^  "^'^^'  ''^  "'«  wonmn 

way,  but  suflifient  i  To  e„able°LTn,?'''r'  ^"^^P^^-^ 
admit  that  now  and  then  ^nJ^.  , '"  ^  ""l  of  her.  I 
to  lean,  or  to  recoll^t  thrtTutrhT/"''^ '"'^ '~"'''« 
especially  for  the  people  wh„,n  I 'us^  "'  '^'  ™J°"'y' 
i  m  a  cast-oir.     Gentian  iZ",  .     *"  "^^re  most  for 

ond  wife.     She  ilTgoJ^^^.'j^f'y  Humphrey's  sJ: 
reigns  in  my  stead  "  virtuous  woman  who 

you  ^ih^S  TorViilr  ^'^^  ""  "-P'^-y.  -hen 

ing  at  all  allu    it.     BlaTseTf^'  '^^'l  ^  ^new  noth- 
my  own  heart,  when  I  hadn'f  i*^°"^^*  ^  ^""^  mounded 
cause  I  took  s-^ietja   £  w„  J  "T"^  '^.'  ^^^^ce.    Be- 
guarantee  I  should  have  Tcce'ot'eS'"  R  "  ''''  "^-^  '-' 
know  that  in  England   wherl^^-     ^''''^  ^  '^'<^^'t 
we  can  be  mighty  in  s  jJJh   h^f"'^^,^'^  '^e  question, 
tional  in  actitn.     Be^L^ti  Jn    l"'<"'i,'^  ^'^'^  ™"ven- 
been  a  foolish  person  amo  J  f'^r^'u  P'='""«  ^ear,  I've 
who  have  taught  themsTef  wStr^'r^  '"""''^ 
their  minds  by  paradox,  a  J  f^  JhS^oS  o7Xt 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

have  ^ouL    r^emsTn  fd^  '°  «""  ""'^f-*  've 
our  t,me  of  life,  but  it  h^s  col  ,.    '^"""^  '"  ">ake  at 
^  should  think  it  mithr^    T"  ""  "nawurcs." 
"It  is  worse  thLn  tha  *fn         f'*"'"  "nco.nfortablc  " 

■n  which  to  educate  an  immorJ         "^  '"?'  "  '^"'^ 
keenly.     As  I  look  back  it  ?  T"'"     '  ^'■"cl  that 

«->«ed  to  Pu^^^a„dtlT:"'■  n  V^  "'-^  ''^"'  >*="-- 
until  I've  completely  lost  X  th  '^  "  f-""'"'*-'  '''''-'  >"«. 
find  myself  side-track^  7„  1  ''^'','?  °  "•  "  to^lay  I 
wje  yet  not  a  wife,  it 'S  Si  LtT"v  'T ''""'  « 
ed  by  people  who  insist  on  the  riJh  f  ^  '''-"  '^■''"  ">'«- 
lease  herself,  and  yet  turn  .^  I,  °^  ""  «"""""  to  re- 
does  it.    I've  been  m  sThl  ?"'  '  "'^"  ^''^  '^  she 

yo"  to  do  the  thing  by  l&!t^'^^»  ^ho  encourage 
offer  you  no  position  or  pS^tl.^  T^'^"  "^"^  ^^^o  can 
been  misled  by  a  Church  wW^uu  "'^''"  "  '«  done.   I've 
age  or  the  convict.on  to  sl^k  JomT  ""'^^  ""'  *'«^  <=»"- 
nage  must  be  either   his^r  thS't^;  f  "'^  '"^'hat  mar- 
your  own  way,  and  frowns  „„' vo,    'T^  y°" '»  find 
taken  ,t.     The  whole  subT^t  ofM    •  '^^'"}  y°"  ^ave 
and  I'm  the  victim  of  ZSt  d«v      T  ^  '"  •=^''"': 
has  taught  me  this  that  the,    •   ^  "jonfusion.     But  it 
tion  for  a  woman  '"'  ^"^  "  ""'^  «««  safe  condi- 

"And  what  is  that?" 

divorc^edVSintfhr'Po^  ,T  ^  -^-  To  be 
husband,  or  a  free  man  with^wffe!^  ^'°'?'^"  ^"h  a 
Soct.  .sn-t  orga„i.«,  ^o  r^^t^^^^^^ 


s 


m 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

is  uncertain;  and  in  human  societv   u,>,»„ 
footing  is  uncertain,  yoTTe  ^^t^  Z"^,  ?,""  ^^^^ 
Petnria  flushed  and  moved  unelsily  L  her  chair 

peace  with  my  babv  bZv^  \  .  ^PP'^'  ^''^^  >" 
against  the  whole  thiS  Th«t°  '"k*""/"^'  '  P™*««' 
eveiy  day  PersonaUv  *»,  J  ^I^^  ^  ^°  *°  '='>•"* 
justify  the  effort  T.T  ^''°'^''  '"  ^''^'^^  '•'^^^'t 

J^ay  de  Bohun  leaned  forward  in  her  earden-chair 
tav  o?rf  •*"  7^'J'<>'^  Petrina  sometS  "n  "The 

carSlo?t!;SrS;^diSce"'S:r^    "-^'"^ 

was  not  to  be  bonie  easily  '        ^  ^^  *^°"K'>* 

heS"*  "^"^^  '  "^^  '^  ^'^^^  -««  t™e?"  she  asked 

voS?husffl*^?^Cv'i/''L\"°'r  '^'^°  ''^^  ""■ 
324 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

put  berseU  teyond  cScrr^A'""'*  ^°  °"'  ^^^^  «"«* 

Then  so  much  the  worse  for  her     «II,o         .    •., 
go  and  be  buried  ahve  likVrnl         u    ^  """^^  "^''er 
world  that  has  shut  its  h^^JT'  7,^^"  '"»«*  "^«  '"  a 
against  her."  ^"^  ^'^'^  '""^^ned  its  tongue 

^onf:lu7o^^7lZT^'^'^^-    ^—uldhave 

tim^hr¥v'e°^S:St^*:?-  .T^-Wbeen 
name  and  a  place  once  .^n  ''°  '*'  J""*  *"  ^a^e  a 

children  don't  hke  Gerald   ^H  T°"^  '"^"-     S"*  *he 
that!  care  enough  Sf ij  ^yli'?.  "°^  ^^'^-^ly  sure 
,  He  is  still  waiting  then?"         ' 
Ves;  and  I  think  he  eniovs  it      H»'      u 
know  that  anticipation  i^^tfLr  i^      °W  enough  to 
kwps  him  patientV"  "^"  "^^''^y.    That 

"IdoJtthilZ"''^^  *°  ^^^^t  '•^  °ne  day?" 
"Rn?H        u   Humphrey  would  like  it." 
,«ut  Humphrey  has  married,  himself." 

„  ^*  would  you  consult  him?" 
doy^^J'SK?^''^*""^-    ^--J-t  sort  of  a  woman 
i^^^Xi^^'"^-     When  she  b.ke 

"?es"  X'JroKr&i""'"^" 

considering  eve^^hing  "  ^"  "P  wonderfully, 

"Hat'W:rst\tiSs^"l3Cse^^^^^^    ''^*«*^-' 
325 


i 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

"Sometimes;  not  often.    He  is  hMr.»j  •    u    ■ 
::Does  he  ever  speak  of-of-mer        '"  ''""''^•" 
^^  Why  do  you  ask?" 
"Because  I  want  to  know  " 

•xSi?'*  "'  '°  ^^"  y°"  ">^  --«<=t  truth?" 

"Jeverr"^^^'-«P<^ksofyou?" 

"Never." 

heJs?r;rerfSrrli^r^'n^'K?^^^  i''> 

lieved  she  had  forso°L  him  L  "^*''^'-  "°'^-  She  be- 
he  should  have  foSu"n t  Sh.  fT  '""^'""  '^^ 
was  something  else  to  ^rpf «.  ^"  """^^^'y  ^hat  it 

conceal  her  agitation  she  1™'!,"?  ^^^'"«*  ^^-  To 
her  empty  cu?  upon  the  tfbk  p^"*-  ""''  ^^-^^ 
knew,  were  on  her  and  tt,if  f  u  .^^"""y  «  eyes,  she 
ing  bolder.  '     ^  ^^^  ^"^^  ^'^^  necessity  for  be- 

•'S^Siy""'srde'^hir?r '?'^'=  ^-*"«'- 

too."  ^  °^  "°h""  returned.     "And  you 

1  think  you  said  you  had  sppn  M,    t     i. 

""'^Zc'e'-^'J'^  ^^-^  -"'  oTpiS^sstyT'^'"^'^  "> 
unce,     i'etrina  assented.  ""^ 

Only  once?" 

clid  you  think  I  mSm?  I  onlv^«n"°  T/'^"-  ^^^ 
that  he  had  rented  OIdb;r^,  f  happened  to  remember 
pretty  cottage  y^  Sow  ^n  ^T  ^f?'''  Bertie-the 
Park."  ^  °'^'  °"  ^''^  outskirts  of  Keston 

"Jn^-^^-i^  f°'"i"^  ''^^'^  to  England?" 
It  he  isn't  already  here  "  ^  """  • 

326 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 
"And  what  about  hi<i  urJfo?"  d  i  • 
her  self-p^sses.io„  ^L'^^eLii?*""^  '^^  '^^^"^^ 

and  since  then,  I  berievrshe  hasn't  ^'  "  ""^^  ^«°' 
where.  She  has  been  ill  «L  j  f "  ^'ngmg  any- 
of  her  had  lost  J/t  of  her tku'ty  "shr  '  1^  ''^^''^ 
ffypsy  creature  to  be  on  thp  f!^    f  '^  '^  *^  ^""^  "^ 

down  in  the  mire  t.^m™*^''^  'e,T"  ''^'^^y  «"d 
be  sorry  one  day  notT^r"     P°°'"F^J'"al    She  will 
he  would  have  taken  h°  "     '  ^°"'  ''^'=''  *°  ^'^^  when 
"^"Wn'thedosostill?" 

of  i-rrerSLSlVCt"'^^?-/  Hisisone 
hut  cruel;  impressionaht    ■ '^     ,  ■  ""stable;  generous 

hut  no  hetter  tn:Zd  JL%Cfchi1d  V' ^""^'  ^«- 
ChalirtrPirrrh  aS^^J^-- «  ^-dy^e 
loved  and  all  the  wXetes'^  J'p^"^f  *l  ^"^^''^t^ 

"Which  strikes  me  a^  rathe^iuft"" n"l'^-^'^- " 
consistent  and  contradictorv     T^      •   '^^  '^  **  ""=« 
him  of  the  monk  and  tm^-thJ^^^^,  is  something  in 

world,  and  yet  not  enoLhoT^W^i^/^  ^^  ™«"  °^  the 
or  the  other.     ThrSuIr      I^^'^'^'^^'™  *he  one 

balance  each  other  not  Tn^b      "•*  *?^  '^^"'^^  '«  him 
silently  over  toe  Lf  '  ''^°  ^^'^  ^*'^PP«' 

0^7 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

hand     When  LecLfrf  ^  Lld^  1" Vu  '''"'"  '" 
round  to  where  she  was  sit^no-    u      ^  ^°'""'  turned 

h'm  with  a  se„,bla„Te  of    haVt^J'%"''!!.*°^^«^« 
which  means  nothing  &ood-natured  welcome 

yesterday.     But  thisTfte™  I  a^T^"^  ^?™  ^''«""a 
of  herald.     I  have  to  « nt  "^  '^^^ '"  the  capacity 

and  more  im^Tnt  tha„  ?""''  ''"'"'  '"°''"  ''°"^«"^ 
Kxplam   yourself,"   Ladv  de   R«». 
Few  come  nowadays  to  darLn  *.,       ""   demanded, 
expect  that  tea  is  cold  "  ^  P"**""  ''""''s.     I 

hisil^^ft^aSX^  Lechmere,  taking 

Keston  Park  I  passed  afandautl  7f  ^"^'"^  ^'•^""sh 
men.  who  hail^me     Jl?  '""  "^  ladies  and  genUe- 

bleside.  Lady  YoZhirl^''  "'^/^^  ^"^hess  of  Am- 
^^^y^^^.rneii:?t?.S:i^^^^-  and  Taddies. 

}caUy.'',:^^7mr tS'it^e'^  ^'"^""  -«•'  *-^- 
I  am  dead.     TeU  fh  JT       u  avenue  and  teU  th^ 

^^H.t'^.-A  trk^^  t;%"ur^  in  the  ho^u^ 

"?i°di'yttd:sr^-^^- 

ess's  name   or  Amos      st     ,?!Tb"'"''  "'«  the  Duch- 
named  him  Taddies."  ^'    ^""^  ^he  has  nick- 

Lelht^eTUS  ''''"'  *"  ^"^*  *•>-'  kind  of  dog  " 
-%^rn;itu1t^;„1^„t?^^^^^^  '-^  *ey.re 

328 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"What  a  rapid   traveUer   vou  are"  J ^u 
whw  he  and  Petrina  were  aki^e         '     ^^^^  said 
^^  1  may  say  the  same  of  you  " ' 

wanderings."  ^'  "''^  end  of  your 

*„'*T*^"r^.°"^°''y°"'' kindness,"  said  Petrin=   *     • 
to  teke  a  hght  tone.     "  But  vou  see  fh=*  ,  '"     '  *'^"*f 
peril  now.     I  had  no  idea  th^^  ^         ^  ^™  °"*  °f  a" 
wonr:n  to  travel  alone"  '^'''  ""  ""^^^«  f<"  a 

place.  "They  n^v  nof^  ,'"^'''  '^^"ming  to  her 
shall  not  go  emp^Uay  ^  "'''°'"^'  ''"*  «*  '^-^^  they 

hJr'd^rl't^eToteTndL'r.'  ""^f  ^'^  -- 
other  three,  busSout  Jth^ut  v^'a'Sr'f""^"'  ''^  *« 
to  Mnounce  her.  ^'''"^  ^"^  ^^  footman 

"Mypoordearl"  she  called  inho,™  i- 
with  both  hands  outstretS  i,?^'^'!S^^°'"^'««' 
towards  Lady  de  Bohun  wh„  »  T^^  ""^  ^^wn 
her.  "Myp^rdear°"she7etaT^'  ^^'"""ir  *»  "eet 
hands.  "To  think  that  you'^SA*°°'^,F"''««'« 
quite  affecting."        "^*  y""  ^e  hving,  after  all!    It  is 

"I  feel  it  so.  Duchess,"  Emilia  Ian^t,«j  ..t 
expected  to  see  you  in  thifwnrU  ^^^  ^  "^^ 
LadyYorkshire-nor  you  Mr  I  ^&='?-nor  you, 
of  you  all  to  come  aJd  ^efr^e  ""'•  "  '«  «°  ^^i 
do  you  do,  Gerald?  Take  T.  n  u"  "^  *"'"''•  How 
tree.  You'U  find"  some  cS"^J''  """^  *?  *^  y^^ 
there."  "^"^  *"<'  some  old  friends 

"We're  staying  at  Keston  Castle  "  LaWv  v    i   u- 
said,  languidly.    "  When  M=.;„,  oil'-    ,^ady  Yorkshire 
that  you  were  in  ttJs  ndX^^  '"'''  "^  «*  ''"'^h 
should  like  to  seL  you!"  ""'^^'^*°«J  we  thought  we 

329 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

as  the"'  mo':?rwrt;;S'in^  ^"^^ire  said, 

.s  so  much  more  convenient  than   "'^.  ^^f'^We.     "That 

"The  world  into  S  v-"        '" '^^'^ °*h«^' ^"^d. " 

gon^"  Lady  de  Bohun  t^°^  '^^^^^  "^^,  to  have 

We  knew  vou  wnr«  ,  &°°"-naturedly. 

^^^^^■'l^^Ll^  ^at  delicious  E„,. 

fowI„"„r^ooTXX"''lhetucl^  "^"''-  ^^^  n- 
a  big,  jovial  laugh  *'"'' ^"'^''^^s  rejoined,  with 

beside  Petrina  ^  "'^  Duchess,  sitting  down 

tesiilLS^^^'^--^  "^"^-'^  «^«k  so,  I'm  sure,"  pro- 

w''Lad?reBl,r„n^:ht1rr-^'^'  ■^'^'"^  ^  -P 
ess.  "'^  ^"d  passing  It  to  the  Duch- 

"And  how  is  Mr.  Vassall?"  h 

vassan?    her  grace  asked,  turn- 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
>ng  suddenly  to  Petrina      "r     u   ,   , 
down  to  GrLmbriige  next  ^eS'  ^  ^^'  him  to  come 
wanted  to  come."  week7-you,   too,  if  you 

"Thanks,  Duchess    hut    T'         ^i_ 
Petrina  answered,  wiih  an  eCt^StT''"   ""^raged," 
rassed.  ""  ^"°"  not  to  seem  embar- 

"But  he  isn't,  I  hone  "  *!,„  n     l 
should  love  to  have  hh^'     t  '"''''"^  VUT^n^.     "j 

of  him  when  he  wL  iTst  her'n'""''  ^^.^  '^"""^h 
tl,?}  -     Perhaps    he  fhTu^h^^r^nl  'Vtl 

Duch:sTLrdyVo?kshrr'''"Y^"  "^^  -i-«-, 
suavity.  •^    ^orKsttire   remarked,  with  a   grave 

Pcl''l'^"'frhe'  Tnle't'"  '^^  ^^^'^'^^  -«*  on  to 
fetch  him."  ^'^^  ''°"^e?    Send  some  one  to 

you  doing  here^DS";orthinTit  l^'T  ^^«*  -« 
?1  alone?  I  shouldn't  Tf  ml  h  k'^^1  !°  ^^"""^  ^im 
interesting  face.  I  remembe"  hi,  f'^^"*^  ^^"^  ^"'^'^  «n 
he  got  it  still?"  "^"""er  his  face  especially.     Has 

;;He  had  when  I  last  saw  him" 

«e  was  50  good-looking-  not  a  hit  n 
n."  "^'  "°t  a  bit  hke  an  Ameri- 

.    "^"''^"<:hess,"saidBertie  "Mr  A 

'^iS.P'^  ^  ^^'--^^  Apol^rfhtll^dy 

on;;°^^^^^^^^ 

the  blood  of  a  certain  j^oplefamn       -^M""  ""^^  of 
finance^thathehastherd^SS^^^^^^^ 

"^'-afraid,Duchess,".,,,,,,^,,^^^^^^^^^^^ 


can 


m 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
^n  V^/r  W-"'  '"  *"'  "•'-«-  «-  •-  >nli„«te 

worse  luck.    I^ve  nl^l^^TZu^^'Ct  T  '^"'' 

"  Would  there  what?"    7.A    ^""'''."'ere,  Agneta?" 
to  have  heard,  SaSshett  ff'^u!^  ^^^*^  "°* 

aea.Kpftrir''"^':StS^  ''"'=^''  ^^^  *"™ed 
Miss  Faneui?     When  Hn  ™^  ^"^^^  ^^-  Wassail, 

surely  be  he;efo;i^^eSrt''of"ther'  '^'"l  "^  "'» 
let  him  come  without'^  me 7  That  w'  ,1^  ^°"'* 
I  see  his  face  still-such  a  nf^!  •  °"'^  ^  «=™el- 
so  different   from^mblesirs'  ^Tr^''''''  '^^ 

:^stSn„trto^S£H-  -^e^-^1 

slightest '«„::.  ^Not"UZttThi„*t"'=\°"'^  *« 
wUh  such  a  good-looking"L*Sa„;i''te>  "^''*' 

io^^^^Z'^^Li^^.^tt''''  ^^^-.''-stion 
and  biscuits,  had  s^S  "  n^  v"^"!  ^*  <=^kes 
into  the  Duchess's  ^r  ^'^  '"'"'P"''^^  something 

anSai^ToT  ll^tatS^'  J^":*  ^^ 
you  say?  Who's  divorced?  Don'^sav  ^h^'w  '  ^'^ 
now.  Iwanttoknowwho'sdi-^c«1  I  .  *°  ™^ 
•'S7:r™'JJ  ^*  deu/hti^'^t„pr'--t  Miss 
VasS'a'„"dta^,^;--  t^  ^^^  '"^"^  "^r- 
subject  further."  ^^    ^'^'^  ''°  ««*  discuss  the 

332 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

pameucally.       No  one  with  any  delicacy  would  do  so 
But  I  m  so  sorry  for  you,  poor  thing!     What  a  dr°a^' 

fonvLd  and J^i'^^d  her  4lo'n"^*;£^^^^^^ 
£oSnnnd?t\lSras^;^?rL^^^^^^^^ 

4'.^Jn  Mr^la^^^^^^  Xrr.:-^SrcT.lr 
ned,  now  I  come  to  think  of  .*      n„*  j    , ,  7     "' 

^chz:?  i^XiiW't^r,!"'  ^"'•'^^'' «"--«» 

^'^Or  you  and  the  Duke."  interposed  Lady  York- 

wil'e^iLStrT  ''NotZ  wiiTKe^te^r^'^L' 

Lt  1he"""^HH^"^  -"^  tL^^^It  ;as'^ySrr 
HeW^  archbishop,  you  know-who  held  me  hack 

even  if  you're  in  the  right.  If  they  have  vou  at  ^^r 
houses  t  will  only  be  as  a  kind  of  sh^o^s'that  the  men 
may  talk  about  you  in  the  smoking-room,  and  thatX 
women  may  watch  you  when  you're  pres;nt  and  tattle 
about  you  when  your  back  is  turned.  I  must  ^  I 
never  reahzed  before  what  it  was  to  have  clergy  in  [he 
family.  I'm  sure  we  do  them  a  great  injus¥c^Se 
333 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
^fTanlSr  j^;;  ri'r^  '=°"'''";'  -y  boo  to  a 

J^d&^t':a^-'^*X^-He.    ^That.  .hat  I 

gave  me  the  most  convinci^^,  „f    m   "f  "'>nds.  and 

at  Mr.,.  Vyncr,'  he  sa"d   'a^d  ll    ""«^*^«''°n«-    'I^k 

on   and  I-ady  StainTs  and  "ter  ,/  ^"'*"  P°'«ham^ 

|fct]y  innocent  women  Til  of  ^k  °  """"y  "'hers-peVi 

<hey  are  driven  to  do  church  worV  r''  ^^^  '«>day 

land  of  respectable  ,«si^i^n  *  <u  '"  ""'''-''  '°  ^«P  any 

charitable  c^sider  thei^^I'?/'"'^  ^•"•'''-     The   mos^ 

»ays.  and  he  must  know     SZ""  "l"'^°cal.'  Jack 

And  the  Duke  b^,v,  i,;    ^  ^  ^'"'^  ""y  sorrows-" 
nifi«nt  glance  around         '    '""'  ^'•"«'  ^"h  «  sig- 

"broken  vows f^'i^e tow  ill'  f^'!"''^'  ™--^""y. 
Agneta?"  ^"°*^  «"  about  them,  don't  we, 

"You  seem  to,  Duchess  "  I  oj     tt    . 
With  unnecessary  tartness  ^  Yorkshire  replied, 

we  all°d^^^^-"  ^^^  ^"'^bess  admitted      "T 

*!!i        ''°r""l«s  it's  you    Mafor  n!  ??■      J  suppose 

took  any."  ^  "'  *^J°r  Bertie.     You  never 

::NorI,"saidAmos. 

^^idn't^^,%ir's:r?^j-^^^^^^^^^^^  -^i^r  ^^-- 

come  over  with  you,"  she  confw.  l}  .  •'  "'^y  be  didn't 
towards  Petrina"^  "it  wLldn'  "d  '  ^"'"'"^  °"'^  ""ore 
can  go  far  with  a  man^f  -  ^°  "°'^'  "'ould  it?  You 
all;  but  once  yo^-rTh  i  ^^^h  "7"^  *°  '^^  " 
won't  come  to  town,  either  Oh  '^'"""-  ^"'^  yo" 
;^?nt  on,  in  answer  „  a  protestL""'  ""^  ^"^^'"  ^'''^ 
tnna's  eyes.  "You  could^'^  You'/'Tr'""  '"  ^^ 
t'on  too  equivocal.  You  wou^nV  ^-^co^nXS:" 
334 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

^ndsVay  where  ^5Lr''V""°^  ^''^  '''^  Bohun" 
about  you  tCt  he?^ta^ri„  "^^  "i"  ""^'^  ^*''«S« 
she  divorced  HuraDhrev  h.r  u  '^^:  ^^  '"  '«^''  «'hen 
paper  in  a  blaz^  fhe^i^!';,^''"^'^'-  7"'  "''«  ''«""<■- 
That's  why  sh^  C  L^^T  '  "T  ""  '^'  '-^^  •^'hmd. 
By-the-way,  Tea?'  th?  n  u"  "'  '"  "^'^  '="""">'• 
over  at  Lad'y' dr^'h„?' dM  n:n  Z^S  H^ 
your  sister-in-law's  the  other  night?-  '^""'  "' 

At  my — J 

wdl^St  y^r^,n^:;::' ^"«^'  «-  -t  aumciently 
exact  relatLship  r?^!'*-",';-'  '°^T  ''  '^at's  the 
She's  a  dear  isn'?',hor  «  u  "'"P''''^^  ■"'  "'^er  wife 
plexion-^el  yoi'd  si  l^  ^''^^''  "y''''''  «"''  «  ^om- 
you  can't  tei/ They  3:"  1^'  "^i^""-  B"'  that 
neta's;  and  vet  evor^  f  ^  ^™^  ''''"S  about  Ag- 

as  grass.  Wei  clmld  I  ,^?"'''  ''^^  )'''  ««  "^t"'«' 
me  to  give  the  sign  lo  go  I  seir  '''""'■'  ^""'"«  ^°^ 
back  to  Keston '•         ^       '  ^«^e  y""  « impatient  to  get 

wlU'u":^'  "^^'^  "^  ^''""  -"''  be  sorry  to  see  the 
veil^^r^'^^^i^iln^en  extre..y  di- 
all  rls^"'^  '°  '^'^  ^"^''-^-"  Petrina  assented.as  t^ey 
-idt'grrce  StrMT^^'i^^  -'J  Saddles," 
comedy.     Thaf's  whv  I  .      '"*"^«".ng  as  a  French 

335  =>      j^  • 


it! 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asund 


er 


I  am  so  happy  to  have  seen  you  both.  Dear  knows 
when  we  shall  ever  meet  again.  My  brother  being  an 
archbishop,  you  know,  obliges  me  to  be  most  careful  " 
Lechmere  saw  the  party  to  their  landau,  and  when 
the  sound  of  wheels  had  died  away  Petrina  and  Emilia 
stood  lookmg  at  each  other  in  amazement.  Then  they 
burst  mto  a  nnging  peal  of  laughter.  But  in  their 
laughter  there  was  something  nervous,  hysterical,  and 
very  near  to  tears. 


CHAPTER  VI 


DuSradlJL^"  *^h'r  i*  r '""'  '",'""«  «'  the 
to  make  it  the  only  thTne  to  rfp"' **}'"''  "^"'"l 
Orpington  Park  was  lorfltogether  aT'  ''"  '''^'  '° 
was  clear  that  Emmy  was  Snl  ''^  '^^  °"<=-     " 

she  herself  i„  another  As  PelZ'"  °"'  ''"f' '°"'  «"d 
was  showing  that,  after  all  she  wasX'^l, '''  ^'""'^ 
revertmg  to  early  behefs  and  practices  a 'dh  "''"  ""'^^ 
to  be  "narrow."  She  went  Pvir,,  j  1  °  •'^ginning 
in  her  convent  at  Bi,),!"  n  "^  ^""^  *°  ««=  Hippolyta 
with  what  Petrina^hou^hl  y^T'  ^""^  ««"«  home 
the  religious  life  She  fel  fntoth  T>  "^""«°"  ^°^ 
her  former  ideas  as  "  wronV"  ,  ^"  °^  speaking  of 

who  held  those  ideas  smLi'"'^^^'"^  *''«'  P'Wna. 
them  there  was  no  falling  off  in  Iff"' ;"  '"^'-  ^«**^«^ 
that  failure  of  symSv  which  .T  ''"'  '''^^«^«« 
when  one  and  not  She  oth?h«,  T'"  ^'^"""  ^"^"d« 
view.  "^  "'"^"^  ''a*  changed  his  point  of 

alllw^S^e^'Sic^esro;  imbT"'.'^""^^  ^''^  -"'"  -t 
challenged.     She  t.^kTl'''''"''^  "^  °P'"'°n  ^  Pass  un- 

of  the  s^ocia.  autSh'^/urxp^^t  f'  'TfT 
would  not  be  frightened  by  it  Shi  ^^"i-^*  "''^ 
perfectly  innocent  woman,''  she  SS'  N ""  " 
has  a  nght  to  cast  suspicion  on  m™?"      ^°  °"^ 

no  rebuff;  she  was  "nl^^-al^-Her^^  ^^^^ 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

quaintances  learned  of  her  divorce,  and  showed  no 
surprise.  They  said  it  was  "American,"  and  let  it 
pass;  but  they  ceased  to  show  their  former  friendship 
for  Petrina.  Some,  who  had  admired  her  as  a  girl,  ac- 
knowledged that  they  had  always  thought  her  queer; 
others  who  had  liked  her  owned  that  they  were  dis^ 
appointed.  The  majority  considered  her  "  mysterious  " ; 
her  manner  of  appearing  and  disappearing,  they  said, 
was  strange;  she  turned  up  from  nobody  knew  where^ 
now  with  a  husband,  and  now  with  none;  it  was  there^ 
fore  wiser  to  be  on  the  negative  safe-side  in  the  way  of 
intimacy.  They  greeted  her  kindly  when  they  met  by 
accident;  but  it  was  only  by  accident  that  they  met. 

The  perception  of  this  came  to  Petrina  quickly.  When 
Sir  Humphrey  and  Gentian  invited  her  from  Saturday 
to  Monday  to  their  little  place  in  Herts  she  found  herself 
the  only  guest.  When  she  dined  with  them  in  town 
no  one  was  asked  to  meet  her  but  Gentian's  father 
Petrina  understood  at  once.  She  was  being  kept  out 
of  sight  of  Gentian's  friends.  She  could  almost  hear 
Gentian  saying  that  her  own  footing  was  too  insecure 
to  allow  of  her  giving  public  recognition  to  anyone 
whose  position  could  be  questioned.  Princess  Hans  of 
Markenstein  was  effusively  cordial ;  but  when  Petrina 
lunched  at  Markenstein  House  she  noticed  that  her 
fellow-guests  had  been  carefully  chosen  among  those 
who  hve  in  glass  houses,  and  therefore  could  not  be 
particular  or  throw  stones.  These  were  Petrina's  social 
attentions.  They  were  given  from  necessity,  as  if  to  a 
poor  relation,  and  were  kept  for  intimate  occasions. 
Neither  Gentian  nor  Princess  Hans  failed  in  protesta- 
tions of  friendship;  but  their  hospitahty  was  never 
repeated. 

From   the   rest   of   the  worid   there  came  nothing. 
Petnna  knew  that  .she  was  not  even  talked  about     She 
338 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

pathetic;  but  she  did  not  senT  1     ^^?',^^  *^«  «.V«- 
Party  at  Anableside  House     Ldv^Yo^v"  '^'^'^ 

he  was  afra.d  5  b^„rcX2sT'"^P^^^'  ^  '''--'» 

-intet^^ird^^'Pet™^^^^^^ 

hitherto  carried  with  her  Th^P*"^"^^  ^''^  had 
against  her.  There  wa<=  L  ..  ^^^  "°  movement 
who  has  ..hockXrjro^rietr  tV"^*  '^^  ^  "- 
«lent  refusal  to  consider  her  as„ f^w' •''^'  ""'^  « 
group  to  which  she  had  oncl  lf„t  ."^  '""^■'  social 
made  the  objec'  of  gossin    sh!         "?'^-     ^^^  ^^a«  "ot 

"They  loik  upof  me     '  /""P'y''=«°"t. 

herself  one  day,  when  ?htre'.'r"r"'^*'='"  ^'^^  ««'d  to 
"'  I'  Petrin;FMI  st'!,*'°"^f™^"P°"her. 
with  shame.  No  morTL.  *  "''"'■''*^'  She  tingled 
h-  down  with  s„°ch  hul^S""  '^""''^  "^'^  ''-iS 

eveXS^^lf rht%r3  ^'f^r  °-  ^'-  ''^'^ 
descriptive  of  her  own  condifion  TU  ^''  "^"  "'"■' «« 
ment  m  the  very  fact  S  ^^'"'^  "^^^  self-judg- 
and  it  terrified  her.  ^'  "^^^  ''^  "^xt  thought. 

examfnaiion.^  "Is  it' wssibIe"*VT'r'"  ^"^^tened  self- 
Do  others  see  in  me  a  Ee'cnf  /.^™  deteriorating? 
insensible?"  "eoasement  of  tone  to  which  I  am 

regrretreSSylSn  'r'  -""^  «"^  no 
worid  towards  her.  h  was  IS"*  ^"'*"''"  °^  ^"  the 
that  she  could  not  even  cTL  J^  /^"'^^  ^°  courteous 
difference  which  sees  and  vefo"  f  'f'  ^*  ^^^«  ^he  in- 
therefore  not  unint^nliSl.  '°°^''''  ^'^  ^^^i^h  is 

339 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

KovSlk:;  hir"""'"  '"  ""^  -°'^"'  "^«  fete  should 
Just  then  Lechmere  came  to  town     p«,™  u- 

S%e"c:uK"v:TredYct<!^"  hrhLa'li^*^  ^^- 
««r^*™?^  r^  *°"'''*^'     ^"  *•»«  "'eeks  that  followed  he 

340 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
he  did  not  love  her,  but  sKuW  n  ^T^"    ^^^  ^^"^ 

t^h.p  He  brought  H^'^^risrss/r 

to  see  much  of  her.  Wh^  her"?  ^  ""'^  Lechmere 
this  was  wise,  she  had  ^it  L  ^"^^'^"?  ««ked  her  if 
no  one  beyond  them^lv«  ,  'ff'-'  **^*  there  was 

?he  had  t/ed  at  firtuo  ^inLrh  If '^  J**^  P""!-"" 
mg;  she  would,  therefore  esSj?7^"^^^^"°t'^- 
fnce.  She  would  not  be  nrK.l  .  u*"*  '"  '^^  "b^erv- 
indapendent.  She  wouW  i^n  ft.*'  ^"'  "^^  ^""^  be 
who  had  ignored  heSts^Sh  '  °fj"j°"«  °^  ^hose 
a  society  which  had  Wnti  thS  ,> ^^u  ^'"^'^  ^''^ 
her.  She  would  not  take  life  til"  .i'*^  ^''^^^  ^"h 
3he  had  to  suffer-  ralhersL^fJ'^'  '"  "P"*^  °^  «" 
and  see  what  was  iJtioL"^  ^°""  '°°^  «*«"*  her 

"WhynotdosometS^r''^*"   """  Saturfay   night. 

Court."       ^       '  ^^^°  «Pend  the  day  at  Hampton 

"I  have  an  idea." 

"S^*  V*^-     ^  sure  you  keen  il  " 

Why  shouldn't  we  go  off  for  t^fj      ,        , 
"For  a  number  of  r^son"..  '^  °^^*''*='"-" 

detail.     But  if  it  isn't  v^°fo   "T^^'^^^'y  to  give  in 
"Which  it  isn't." 

''^c'hTd:S°^^^-^--hoat-" 

"InTJ"'  ^'"''n^.t°  think  it  over." 
And  :f  your  daemon  is^affir^ative,  be  ready  for  me 


If: 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

Waterb^"^''  *°  ^^^  ^°"  *°  "'^  t«n-tWrty  train  from 
"  I'm  sure  it's  Hampton  Court.    I  won't  go. " 

It  isn't  near  Hampton  Court,  and  you  must  go  " 
Petnna  did  go.     The  invitation  caught  her  in  a  reek- 
ess  moment.     She  remembered  their  day  at  Tivoli  and 
their  drives  about  Rome.     She  would  throw  propriety 
to  the  winds,  and  have  one  good  day  in  England.    Loii- 
don  was  hateful  to  her;  its  Sunday,,  drove  her  to  de- 
spair.    She  would  go  at  all  costs. 
When  Lechmere  came  in  the  morning  she  was  wait- 


CHAPTER  Vn 

"Stop  at  Queen  Adelaide's  Tree."  said  Lechmere 
to  the  coachnwn,  as  they  turned  from  the  dusty  high- 
way into  Windsor  Forest. 
"What  a  magic  wood  I    How  beautiful  it  is  I" 
Petrma  drew  a  deep  breath  of  pleasure.     As  thev 

iT.^P^^^t^A  ^^'^'-  °^  ^^^  '^"^^  '^""^  oaks,  it 
was  as  If  they  had  gone  mto  another  world.  The  soell 
of  the  forest  fell  instantly  upon  them.  Life  grew  mme 
elemental.  Boston,  London,  Rom^ven  A^ot,  whe^e 
they  had  lunched-suddenly  became  unreal,  as  the 
world  must  become  to  the  soul  that  has  just  passed 

the  breast-high  bracken,  as  through  an  enchanted 
land  where  the  very  dreams  of  poetry  might  come  true. 
It  was  early  afternoon.  The  air  was  still.  There  was 
no  sound  but  that  of  the  occasional  flitting  of  a  biri 
from  tree  to  tree.  Here  and  there  rays  of  light  st™J 
gled  through  the  overarching  boughs,  and  plfyed  amfd 
the  giant  trunks  like  wood-nymphs  clad  in  sunbeams 
In  the  deep,  successive  glades  there  was  a  sense  of  mys- 

Ji^T  *u  '"^^'^'^  °^  ^^^^  ^""^  °^  calm-the  mystery  in 
which  there  is  no  passion,  but  only  a  patient,  timdess 

tUn.°Lfr  ^"l.   ''''^  was'^con^ious'of"^ 
thing  soothing  in  the  spot,  of  something  consoling  and 

spirit  and  folding  it  in  peace. 

"How  beautifull"   she  murmured   again,  as   they 
went  deeper  into  the  hoary  wood.  ^ 

343 


« i 

M 


I'' 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
Suddenly  the  carriage  stopped. 

get  out?    There  is  a  seat  here"     ^°'^''«  *  y°" ''ke  to 
thing  healing  in  it  "  ^  ^''"^  "  8°"^- 

an;tii:?r*Son^*;ou  ts^Ts^*^^^^^  ^"''  -°^ 

W.     It  ^e^  the\L°ditt?oSe    n^c^ent"!^  *}^ 
isn  t  a  tnm  palacs-park  like  the  forest  of  St  r»    '  • 

344 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

^»,*l?f  *^^  P'^*"^  ''^^  associations  for  you?    I  won 

Where  did  you  live?" 

"2^",^^''^  '^°nd  St.  Leonard's  Kill  " 
;;  You  liked  the  neighborhood?" 
that^'  netting  suited  the  jewel.     I  can't  say  more  than 
"No;  becau,se  when  you  say  that  you  say  all  " 

1  never  should." 
^J^  know  that,  too.     We  were  naade  to  console  each 

more^djf?  '"^  *^*'"^  consolation," Petrina  said, 

E:."L^:e\rfir^rJt^7anrii''S^£r^°"*^"'^- 

.-ri^l,  r  ,elt  that  we  were"nXf4' ^Ke -^ 
345 


i^il:. 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
moie  than  sympathv     I  loIH  «„, .  i  u  j        ^"ne'n'nfif 

rr^z-pf^^g"  jS°  f-r  "'^' 

mrther  hope.     When  I    Irf?  ^o,  t  J^"^  "^^^  "° 

living     tI^^'        j    ,    "*  "'^'^  ^  ™^nt  not  to  eo  on 

found  niysSTn  L  chu4  I  wL'n'f  '  "^  J''^"  ^ 
I  was  too  far  gone  for  Thl't  T  V*'^*="?  suffering, 
there  dnily  ani  fn^eX  JaSy'^chrsSJ"  ^  ^' 
the  great  narcotics.  Bv-and  b v  ?W  *"'°°*"'«f  «"«>"& 
I  don't  know  what     TW»    '^       r  ?^^^  *  ^^"•'<=e; 

"You  knew  what?" 
"That  God  had  given  you  to  me." 
346 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"I  am  not  to  be  disposed  of  by  a  God       Tho*  • 
egression  which  I  don't  underste^d!^'         ^^'  '"  ^" 

;;wha&r""'"^'^'^'''^^-'-" 

"^hat  we  need  each  other." 

ficienttSlS  Ind  y?u  wfur  *  ^^^  ^  ^^  -'  -^- 
«-t  whie/,„„  i^-^5  -" -ver  have  any  ideal  but 

It  hasn't  required  words." 
felt. "      °"^''' ""'  *°  ^^"^  *°  ™«  «  "^  *hich  I  haven 't 

a  life  whose  empSs  arpTlK^:""  "'"  «°  ^"^^  •"'" 
.aid  Jith"lir  "  "  """"^^  ^  P'^^"  -'""de."  she 
"Why  should  you  try  to  deceive  me?    V„,. 

1  nave  never  worn  one  " 

Vas^S^wouldn^veTuist'^yr-^  ™^^^  *^^ 
And  you  think  you  do?" 

f<^AZ^S'^'  ^'"'^'  ^^  °"^  '-"^  'o  -d  a 
"But  it  remains  foreign  " 

347 


Let  Nol  M»n  Put  A.urde, 

explore  in  this  wf  ?„„  '    '     T^T' y°" '^W  «ver 
There  is  the  same  " 

latter-day  point  of^few  T"^^'  ^TV^"  ^^^^hle 
experiment  SSght  be  rash  n.^^'-.u  *^"^  '^"^  the 
is  httle  to  be  4red"  *  ""^^  y*""  ^'^  «« there 

'Trtl^f''*  "^  ^"^^^  '"'  granted.    I  resent  that  " 

weU^^oiVa  ^xSiL^'-Jo:''^*  y?-  How 
the  liberty  "  explain  if  you  would  let  me  take 

in  t?eXfn^ct^a^&i!S  '^'"fir^'-^  -"« 
silence  as  permission  to  go  on      ^^^     ^•"""■'^  t°°k  her 

I  c'2:"  uSti'Td  iH^^  "t!Jl'"Jr  ^^-«" 

you  two  were  not  fitt«l  for  each  othir^*^u°  "^  '''^t 
him  as  a  friend  I  fa«ed  to  ««    i,  ^^"^  «^  ^  '"k"" 

him  as  a  hustend  Oh  r  ^C^^^  ^T  l*»°"'d  «--  for 
added,  quickly,  as  Petri^I  tulL"""^  that  later,"  he 
haughtily.    ^oyouhX^S^deat'-anTit: 


Let   Not    Man    Put  Asunder 
Wfre  right.     He  Man  ideal —  (I,-.    J    i    , 
«n,ple   high-minded   a„rt7oLg  'ti^' ^t'^^Z^' 
first  there  were  in  him  all  f  K»  .f '       .  "I  ^  '*"««'  him 
Sidney.     That  is  whTt  drew  m!  7?'"  °^  «  ^ir  Philip 

«w     But,  unforturSllyZT,  all^e'L"'  "''^'  ^"^ 
great  nature  up  within  1^/1,1  •.'        "*'  P">ned  a 
traditions  and  focal  iLLffi^^cy  "?ff  ^^  '«™'y 
his  mind,  as  a  Cnina-woZn  k'^j    u    ^^  •»""<•  "P 
it  might  never  ouSw  w^t  t'^t'  ^Z  ^°°''  «"  t»^« 
Harvard,  or  have  anXnT^ore  than"      ^'  ^  "^^  «' 
tion  of  a  world  outside  of  M^?  u     "  ^  "^K"*-'  P«reep. 
New  England  q^fties  he^^^  ^1^.*^:''     '^°  ^^e  bS 
able  of  New  England  faufcif  *^'  ""^^  ""»*«'- 
tiospective  and  yet  Llf    Z~fi^  **"''^".^y  *°  he  in- 
and  yet  ice-bound    nmentelS  '"^^i""*'^  "o™! 
right  about  him  in  disSon'^nnH     ^"^  «^«ythi„g 
cramped  himself  upTnT  tr^"^  Pnnciples.  he  has 
the  world  in  which  there  il  ^        '^i°f  «"  worlds- 

VassallwasmeantfotaTarge rbuTf  t.''"'  '"^"'y- 
himself  to  tread  a  daily  f^tL   "'''!  ^»  "^  trained 

thinks  nothing  worthSg'b'^f  ttt'Sh'^!, "°"  ''^ 
no  one  worth  knowing  but  f  >,7.J  L  ^f''  he  does,  and 
nothing  worth  can^g  foJt  fe l^;^"™  ^"  ^°^''-  «nd 
appeals  to  him.  He  should  h^'" ''"*  ^'^t  *hich 
Bayard  and  he  has  made  himseWrT*^T  1  Chevalier 

Petrina  sat  silent  ^1/^  *•     .  ^"^  ^""'^^r" 
deepening  in  h^c^ik        •"°*'°"'^«'   the  red  slowl^ 

"And  into  a  life  like  hi«  "  i  ^u 
brought  your  own42er1„aS'""'^  PV""«^.  "you 
ly  independent,  sensitivdyTmSt'of'""f  ?'^°"«- 
mg  at  tradition,  and  irrever«iT*         I  ''°"*"'''  ""ck- 
o   the  past.    It  wouldl^Sl  ttTr"'  *%^-hings 

heforehishardnei,."andSltrtSeTo:te? 
349  ' 


!i.| 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

iated.  When  you  pa^  f^lA  P'^'"'f''  ^nd  hiimil- 
proud  woman  like  yCl  i7l"  Jh^°^"'^  "  ^«'''  ^"'■« 
own  soul  for  every  Cto^lrJ^^'''"?*"'  °"t  your 
are  quite  free  your  »n!n?  f^  ^^^-  ^"*  'hat  you 
robl^,  andkfUo ffi  tif  '  "^  -^  "  '"*'  '^  beaten! 
■   Levite,,  and  W  ^nttetSfy  by '^ST,;^"'' 

Tivoli  I  couW  ^^Hn  R  **  "f  "  *'*"»  *«=  "net  at 
obiectless  wS™  J^VienT  IZ'^  '^  "V"  >•-' 
here  in  Kn^land    wh^e  v^f  "  ***  '*'  ^^^^^  a", 

whoshould  stand  by  v^u  anrfw  '""^""ded  by  tho«^ 
what  indignation  you  ke^  /  "°  °"f  '^°''-  '  '«'ow 
amiable  manner  Tkno^wC"  "1^"  ^°"'  '^°''«y 
could  shed  if  you  ,ere  t„  lit  ;ot  eU  S'^'"""  T 
ast  woman  in  the  world  to  te^r  the  fate  thn^K  "'"  *" 
taken  you.  You  were  meflnTj^  V-  •  '  has  over- 
and  not  to  shiver  at  ILT^  Yil^^  "I  '^^  P°'«^«' 
you.  It  has  poured  ouUofyou  tt^  bes^^f'T"  ?'""'  *« 
then  mingled  it  with  wonnw<wd  it  h»  ''^  *'"'= «"«! 

youth,  and  health  and  then?^,'  ^'^'^  y°"  heautv, 

all  are  u.seless.  B„t  I  c'uld  h.1^°" '"^^  P'^^"  ^^^"^ 
you  strength,  comm„i„nI;„  '^^°"-  ^  '^""''^  hring 
could  do  L  mor"'^^"u  tf  ^"J  P™'^«°n,  even  if! 
At  the  very  least  I  couW  ,?  ^  ^f^^"'-  «>  exposed  I 
tween  you  andhfe  and  M  .  "^  ''''*  ^  breakwater  be- 
force  on  me  "  '  ""^  '"*  '**  «^«^^  «Pend  their  worst 
"And  what  could  I  bring  you'" 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

the  atom,.     When  exnesm^H*  '"^  ",''"=""  ''""' 

other.    Youandlari™  .,    e'X"  tT*"*"^" 
.      as  .„  adesolate  land  a^hr  , '  I   ,     .ll''     ^  "  ^T  """* 
»orrow.     If  I  don't  say  Ir        ,,s  ',""■"  '     "^^"^  ''^ 
all  that  you  have  felt  on  v  ,.r  Z  '"^  '     *'  ""^r 

i«  a  word  which  wete:",:.    V^;  "".l',   ',"  '    '-'  '"ve 
strong  tie  between  us.      ,  o.i  I. '.       l  '    "  ^"'^  ' 

Rxactly  what  it  is  wenJi  not  ,  I  Z''"-,' '  ^"'"  «"  '• 
It  is  there,  and  that  "s  «.  1,  ';"'"'-^^«-' "' define. 
am  a  broken  man  made  w^I'a,,  ;,  ]  '^P'^nce  I 
you  feel  yourself  a  little  comfon 'l  Oh  '■'!"'  '  ''T' 
should  we  he.sitate?    If  ^»  T  '"i.  i  ttrina,  why 

where  ean  we  go  bit  ^liZihl^'J'""",  "^"^^  "'»•"■ 
have  both  tried'that  and  we  kn„w  hit  "'"^  '"'^^  ^'^ 
m  It.  What  then?  WhirlTtn,  ^'  "^^  *^«"'  f°  o" 
is  to  become  of  "s?  In  »  7^7"  '"*'  *"  '"'"?  "'hat 
leaving  London     But  wh  ''''^''  "°*  y""  *'»  be 

you  to  doV    mw  "re  vot    o  ?' ^7  *°  ^?^    ^^at  are 
than  in  a  pointle.rwrderinr'Tr' '•''' °''?«^''* 
answer  to  your  question,      n-     .u^  "    ""'^   ""^ 
find  to  mine     There  is  onlv  nn  '%"'"  ^""'""'  ^^ich  I 
we  must  be  together     Th^T  '^^"^f!°'  "«-but  in  it 
liked,  looking^  on  iJe  as  Te  ^T  "l '"  ""'^^  '^  «•- 
over  there,  while  we  ourspll    ^^  °"/  °"  **'''  '^^•'"^ 
elusion.     There  we^ouM  h    7    ""^  embowered  in  .se^ 
tears,  and  stk  SacrlTirer'T^'  """'  '''  ""' 
refuge,  Petrina.     There  is  a  lift     '    v''"^  **  ^"'^  " 
we  could  seek  just  the  baL  for  *  L* u "^  "'  '"  «''*^h 
seems  to  breathe  in  this  dd  w^^*"  wSr'^'  "'^'^''  ""^■ 
me  and  find  it?"  "'"  wooa.     Will  you  come  with 

yieWteSuSol '"  *°  "^  ""' ''"'  ^^^  -"W  not 
"Would  it  be  far?"  she  asked. 
351 


f^ 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder    V      ' 
"Not  far." 

;;Should  I  be  strong  enough?" 
"I   h?  ^     ^^  enough." 

"  Would  ;:ufri^dtf™ft"'''  ""*'"  '''«  -'«»«-d. 

wiufnr^oriL'^f"^;:;,''-^'  «'•''  «>«  touch  thrilled  her 

.-^j^^';^/' he  whispered. 

seemed  to  W  S  shfhadt^ae  ll^ong.''"^  '''^^''  ''^« 


Itert  '& 


"^m 


CHAPTER  I 

to  find  that  Emilia  de  Roh.  "^^  ^  ^^"^^  *«  "lem 

Gerald  Bertie  i^  Le  Nor^^     Tf,""''  ^'  Homburg,and 

nessestothebeginmn^ofTh.  "^  '"^''^  "'"^  "°  *"■ 
Oldbams  ^f Tn"L    *^^  "^^  experiment. 

cottage,  wLwgeenouJhf'^'^"1:'  '''°"^h  '^-""l  - 
merehadtakenifLTS.^-^'^/fied  living.  Lech- 
was  in  the  feeling  that  s^e  LrfA  "'^,^,^''*  P^^^^'e 
m  Boston  was  not  a  home  to  h."  ?"°^"  ''""^^ 
said,  she  might  returnTi  h  T  T"'-  ■  S^^^^day,  she 
years  hence,  when  Z  ^  \}u^  '^  ^  "  '^""^  °nly  be 
to  be  able  to  b^gbagain^''  ^  su^ciently  forgotten 

restg^'pLrffi/trf^^t"'  ^"^J-^  ^-"<^  « 
such  a  degree  that  at  nr^=!  /u    ""^  P*'^*  ^^^  failed  to 

the  tempom1^'''itXhJr"?'''''"°'e°  beyond 

brought  herTf  huSaSn  and        'f^'J*^^  ^^^^^  had 

be  soothed  in  coun  W  ZJe     Afnii"''"  ^^^  ^'^'^  *» 

no  half-estranged  frfen^  to  f      °'''>™'  ^'^^^•^  ^^re 

problems  to  solve.     She  was  n^T'  '"'',"°  ™"«P«cated 

no  longer,  a  waif.    She  lad  on!°"^''  '°"''/'  '^'  ^^- 

household,  and  duties     Sh.  I?  f  *u"''7  ^  husband,  a 

which  to  hold,  and  he;  rfrif^      f  ^''^"'^^'"'^  «"<:hor.s  by 

mere.    Any  title  w^cT,'  '"  ""^  '^^"'^J  Mrs.  Lech- 
had  borne     Sew  h""'''""!.'  '""^'^  f™«  'he  oncThe 

=>ne  had  feit  that  she  had  no  right  to 
ooo 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
lous  ^sUion.     She  could 'cal  trLrs^lr'onTX 

itraTli?r:S^  '^^  ^^  ^^^^  ^"-^  ^-  Svin,  hS 

»r,!?=  '"'"^^'^  "'^^  courteous  and  considerate,  but  Pe- 
tnna  was  surprised  to  find  that,  after  their  mama^r 

we^t^rshe^be    "'  ^"^''  *""  '"^"-     As  Cwel's 

Wr^  af  all  H^l^",  L?''"'?  ""^^  ^^^  '^^  °°t  know 
mm  at  all  He  watched  over  her  and  saw  that  she  had 
no  w,sh  which  was  not  gratified ;  but  in  his  own  Sht 
he  remained  apart  from  her.  That  which  was  iSfcv 
in  fnendship  seemed  like  distance  in  marriage  It  was 
soon  apparent  that  the  Lechmere  of  daily  U?e  was  a  siknt 
man,  with  an  occasional  inspiration  to  tJk;rsadi^* 
with  a  frequent  caprice  for  society.  The  vein  of  mv^' 
ticism  in  his  character  repelled  Petrina    Ws  tend^cv" 

l^lTh^tSThlg^^LiTi^^^^^^^^ 

Who  h.  waked  from  the  fi^of  remTta"tion  to  £ 

r^'it\^u  ^""™^''  ''^"t  °n'  P<:Wna  began  to  ner- 
cave  that  there  were  limits  to  such  consolaffon  asZ 
had  secured.  The  interest  Lechmere  had  shonntn  her 
almost  ceased.     He  was  never  unkind,  but  he  s"o^  off 

was  so  marked  that  she  grew  uneasy.     She  wondered 

InVT  '"^  '^'  "'^P  '^^y  ^^^  taken  together  Ihe 
r  t  J t  «he  regretted  it  herself.  Here,  howe.^  she 
tTX  ^" '"f '-tions.  She  dared  not  dwell  ^Xt 
thought.  For  It  was  curious  that  now,  when  she  had 
356 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

was  more  Sfnll'^Jesennha^  between  then,,  he 
their  separation.     Now  and  th.^    *  T^  ^™^  ^'"^e 
garden,  whiling  away  a  Jlu.^  ^'  ?  "^  "^*  '"  ^er 
her  book  fell  unread  fnfn  f    f     September  afternoon, 
«elf  wonderinnrw  he'L^f '«P:  ^"e  she  found  herl 
■narriage,  and  whether  S^h''"^/''"  "^^^«  °f  her 
perceptibly  to  herself  sh.  l^      "^."""^  ''™  P^in.     Im- 
less  bitterness.     Now  that  s^f "  '"  ''^'".'^  °^  b'™  ^^'h 
she  felt  that  she  couTd  jud'  hi^'  ^''°'^"  ™«"'«  ^'f^' 
before.     Her  marriage  had  l^^  Z°u  ""P"««"y  than 
former  life  that  she^coSw  S'^itT^  '"'  ^"^  ^^^ 
sentence  which  a  new  ~^^  '''^,  ^^"^  '^rt  "^ 

achievements  of  theTasf  Tn  "  '^"  ''^''^^^  ""  the 
cere's  mysteriousness  and  reser^TT  ^"'j  ^ech- 
simple  and  sane.  There  wpli'  ^''^^''"nd  Vassall 
puzzled  her.  and  she  lon«dTnr  v  ^^^„.'^*'^"  Lechmere 
And  yet,  with  strand!      K    ^f^"-"  ^"idance. 

toLechL;e'spl;^rcriTetftt""^^  '""^  ^'""^ 
days  alone,  she  was  restless  ^nil         " /°  P^^^ '°ng 

The  tie  between  them  wfs  30  ^ht'th^r.^f  ^'^"'" 
breaking.  She  was  marri^  to  i  •!'  ^^^  ^^^'^  "« 
they  had  agreed  that  mlS„„  *"'"'  '^  ^««  t^"e,  but 
and  she  lived  in  dread^?  V  f  .^^^  ^  temporary  tW„g 
at  an  end.  Tso "he  wou^d  bJ"^Kr"J^"*  '•'^■^  -- 
decision,  and  should  wander  f.  i^  ^^"^  '°  ^'^'^^P*  ^is 
at  the  word  of  Abraham  *^  ^^^'"'  ^^^  ««gar 

as  ™f  ?ol"i?i^?^^^^^^^^^^^^  r'^  on  Felicia 

the  idea  startled  her  'ih  u^^ ^^''^^^^  one  day;  and 
Madame  de  PrJnyJs  other  fhanT^'li'f '"^  ^°-^^-«^ 
-re's  life;  but  She  ^.'^  :^^^SZi^^^ 

357 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

turbed  in  that  corneV  of  WeXl''  ^"^'^  °^  ^"^  ^'^ 
had  found  rest.  Amol  fl  fl  "^  ^"  wandering  feet 
the  glades  of  Keston  Pafk^h/r^'  f  1  ^^'^^  «««> 
she  did  not  care^lelhfnt «,!„?",  "°*  ^tP^^-  ^°'  *at 
be  kept  hidden  ^Jh^^ZTltieT.'^^u''''''''^^'^ 
that  she  might  lose  Lr  rff  ""^^  ^"  *°  think 

found  it.       ^  ^  ^^  '"^"S^  ^^  ««n  after  having 

Now  a*5  STen's'ieLtd  ^'"^"3:  .^ew  afraid  of  hin:. 

more  than  ever  thf  exVesSn^f   v^'i''^?  ^avehim 
the  First.     They  fell  into  th^  ^= t,^  1  Vandyke  Charles 

old-fashioned  black  dres^^riT  ^""°y;  ">  "er  careless, 

the  blaze.    But  it  wa<!  =«■=;„  i,  "  hands  to 

was  agn  her  own  self-judgment 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
w'rSr'  *^ '''"'  "^^-^^  -  "*•>-  «P«  «he  would 

"And  you  were  not  willing  to  be  one." 

"  ^r  f  "°*  ^T''  ^^  ^"^  continued. 

tHouthtfSly!UL;rSrL^^:fi;t^■r'''1i 

women  separate  for  the  most  inadequate  of'  re"sT„s^ 

£^T;of1n^;.irT:ll5lftHed^^^ 
deaths,  or  do  my  best  to  put  up  w^th  them     If  I  hid 

^ZlTr''  °"  '^'  -'iect  I    shLd'^tiu^th: 

f-S^;?rts-r!isH^9t 

husband  s  phylacteries,  and  worn  as  a  fronflpt  L. 
every  married  woman's  eyes  "  *  ^'"'^'^ 

.Jih  '^°"lV'^''^^e  't  would  be  becoming,"  said  Petrina 
with  a  rather  wan  smile.  «trma, 

"That's  what  we  women  think  most  about  nowadays 

^  gTto  the'at"  '"''  ""^  ^^^^^  "^  P"^"^  and ThlT 
we  go  to  the  altar  as  we  go  to  the  dressmaker's,  to  get 

359 


»^«^«KP''; 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
:;  And  you  think  it  llZZ  tften"?^*  "^•*' 

and,  oh,  dra:    they're  eoin^       °2  '  ^"^-  «*  ^''y  «»«<• 
didn't  kno^    that!  did  yoLf  W.^Z  ^  ^^y^    You 
dreadful  blow  to  me      H  I  r„.T^  L  ^^%  "''■    ^t'"  « 
when  I  made  such  a  fuss  aL  ^ot  h'^^'V"'"^  ^^^ 
chamben,,  three  years  aeo    I  ^,h  ^"""P^^y  to  go  into 
«condtime.    JuftTwn^«o?it      l£lt?^  '^''^^'  « 
step-mother.    I  shoulHn  •♦  J    j    ^    '*  t**®  creature's 
3tand  font  when  SS^ttS'^^^'i  they  asked  »«  *° 
to  oflFer  me  the  best  ntZ,^^-     ^^^^  '^^'' »'  «  Point 
kind  of  queen^owager     B*^  i^'  ^'  ^^^^^  ^  ^^  « 
that  Humphrey  sS"  be  hi   '  "^"^l  *°  '"^  ""natural 
I'm  still  ahve!^  ^^  '^'""^  °ther  children  when 

you^^CGS*^;? ;!'•"-  °^  yo-  °-.  Emmy,  if 

360 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

p^ftMl^he?    Has  Dick  ceased  to  think  of  Felicia  de 

Petrina  let  her  sewing  faU  and  turned  .^arlet. 
^don  t  know  what  you  mean,  Emmy,"  she  stam- 

Sw  T'  i'^''  ^'^  **°*^"'t  8'^«  «  thought  to  Feh da 
"°7o..  ^*"'**' ^«  "l°«sn't  deserve  it."  '°  ^'""^ 

ohe  never  did." 

jJAnd  at  present  less  than  ever.    I  saw  her  at  Hom- 

"P^»i^"^.  ^/"T^"*'  ''^'  ^^'^  «"  interrogation. 
«nW^    tl^gl'' Lady  de  Bohun  pursued.     "ShTwas 

t^Ki    *u^''°'^°[  ^^  ^°"»«'  «W-like  me.    She  was 

had^sold  her  wonderful  pearls,  for  those  she  ZTwere 

"Did  you  speak  to  her?" 

the'^rt  ^m""  ^^^  ^^^  ^"^  ^y-  »>«!  I  hadn't 
hJL}*^  A  f*"*  *  '''"°«n  l*e  her  has  lost  Voice 
I^^'^'^aVV'  '^'  "°^*  miserable  cr^^e 
cipher  a^f  Ambles.de  and  Agneta  Yorkshirfh^d 
coild?;  Tf  '"^T  ^  "'^""''^  have  done  so  too.  bTi 
^S:i'hJ'^k':S:rSS'="«-^^'»3^-^  woman*" 

s:!^SlSL:eSL,JSkrt-l- 

361 


il 


I 


Let  Not  Man    Put  Asunder 
at  heart."  ^  "^°™""  "  "  ^°S  '"  the  manger 

looked  down  iTto  E„X.,fe,HT'  **'-«'„r"'  "  '^e 
of  seeing  you.  I  faS  Jn?.^  •  T.*';..  ?  '"'»  "^^'d 
wrong."  "*^  y°"  "«ht  think  I  had  done 

case  I  feel  more  or  less  res^fwe  "  ^"'"''  *"  y*'"' 

self     If T if  r^-  ^^^  °"f  "  responsible  but  my- 
wle."       '^"'  '^''*'  «  '^«t«''«'  «o  one  elLis  fj 

you  "TheTdrTi  toT  "^i^^*  '  ««"»^°-ed 
sure  you  wouU  have  iSS"  Uh  H  "^  Humphrey  I  am 
that  I  influenced  y^uc^LSv^;  l  '*°'>''."«=a« 
atmosphere  we  lived  in    Twa,  fl      "*  *'  "^^  "»  ^he 

WecaughtitfromSe'^otheTTusttl.r'rK*^  '°^'=""^- 
an  air.  We're  aU  morally  sick-HL^^n^'*'"?^"  ^""^^ 
and  you  and  I  and  the  whnl-7         ^^'^'^^"''^^itian 

Yorkshires  and  Pojlts^i  T^ffl'  "^^^'t^  ^^ 
-'^^.thoi;    ££Sl?"-^ 

I  am  to  blame.     Mother  thinks  so  t<»  "'  ^^^  ''^' 
^^  Uoes  she  speak  of  me?" 
"Always.     She  writes  pages  about  you  " 
362  ■ 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

P^!^  ,«1^'  ''"'"■'=  *°  "^"'^'^  °"^  '"juries." 
rf,r«^^*t^  *  """'"""  *•">  averted  face.     When 
she  spoke  there  was  a  slight  tremor  in  her  voko 

dear^lrT;  "°"""'  ™^  '°^'='  ^"  y^'  EnnnyT-«xy 

ab^p«l"ih^rk^r.Xo»e  t\^^^^^^^ 

ago  «JU>  instructions  notio^iel  t  ZmZ  ^7 
Hesaid  It  was  of  no  importance,  so  I  suppose  h  is^'  " 
Good-bye  now,  dear.    Come  over  to  Orpin^on  as  ^^ 

ha^frersri:c:ry^s:™&-^^^^^^^^^^ 
^c  r^cSr^,  -  ••---  =" 

tho,!fM''"u'l!."''  ^^"^  ^^"*  ""^  something,"  was  the 
U^ought  which  was  crying  through  her  b^ain  "Mv 
husband  has  sent  me  this  "  "^ 

363 


MOOCOrt   (ESOIUTION  TBST  CHAIIT 

(ANSI  and  ISO  TEST  CHART  No.  2) 


^  APPLIED  IfVHGg    In 

^B*.  16^3  East  Main  Street 

5-^  ?-?f!'?*'t'i  ''«''  I'O''''         H609       USA 

^^  (716)   288-5989  -Fax 


CHAPTER   II 

On  an  inner  envelope  Petrina  read  these  words: 

"  What  is  contained  within  was  written,  not  quite  with  the 
ZTl'hH  ^u"  ^^"'"^  '""  "^^  "•  "°t  quite  with  the  inten- 

Ir  .iT.  7^"  ^^T}^  "^"^"^  ^  ■'     "  ^^'l  s«rve  now  to  show 
you  that  I  know  I  have  been  wrong.  " 

The  sight  of  the  handwriting,  once  so  familiar,  thrilled 
u  ■ .  ''^!,°P^n«i  the  envelope  and  drew  out  the  folded 
sheets  She  saw  at  a  glance  that  the  contents  had  been 
jotted  down  from  time  to  time  at  the  urging  of  some  half- 
articulate  emotion.  She  read  slowly  and,  at  first,  with 
impertect  comprehension. 

•'  Two  years  to-day  I  Two  years  which  might  have  be™' so 
fuU,  and  have  been  so  emptyl  Why  did  you  go?  Why  did  I 
let  you  go?  Your  scorn  turned  me  to  stone ;  but  love  as  great 
as  mine  should  never  have  owned  itseU  defeated.  It  must 
have  prevailed  over  you  at  last.    I  have  been  to  blame." 

<<  o  u         . ,   ,  "  January  3. 

borne  one  has  said  that  we  are  forgiven  for  our  sins,  but 
never  for  our  mistakes.  I  have  found  it  so.  For  mine  I  have 
been  chastised  with  scorpions.  I  loved  you,  and  did  not  un- 
derstand you.  It  was  more  than  a  mistake;  it  was  a  crime. 
I  should  have  studied  you  and  Uarned  you.  I  should  have 
given  myself  up  to  the  effort  to  know  you.  But  is  it  too  late 
now?  Surely  there  is  a  place  of  repentance  for  mel  I  would 
make  any  reparation  you  demanded— saving  what  I  owe  to 
conscience,  right,  and  God." 

364 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


..r>     I  .   ■  "  January  ^. 

One  learns  much  in  solitude.  I  can  understand  why  Moses, 
amid  the  mountains  of  Midian,  should  have  grown  wiser  than 
in  the  court  of  Pharaoh.  The  two  years  since  we  parted  have 
been  years  of  solitude  to  me.  I  have  mixed  much  with  men, 
but  among  them  I  have  been  as  in  a  desert.  I  have  Uved  with 
an  invisible  companion ;  I  have  had  but  one  friend ;  I  have  seen 
but  one  f ace ;  I  ha vc  known  but  one  personaUty .  It  has  been— 
my  Wife.  My  Wife!  How  strange  it  seems  to  me  that  there 
was  a  time  when  I  called  you  so  without  trembling.  Now  the 
two  httle  words  overpower  me.  They  have  become  to  me  what 
the  Sacred  Name  was  to  the  Jew.  I  can  no  longer  speak  them 
„,T™  *°  w^'te  them  makes  my  heart  seem  to  stop  stiU.  Mv 
Wife!  Mine!  Mine!  I  cUng  to  that  proud  possessive  It 
gives  you  to  me.  It  binds  you  to  me.  You  are  mine.  You 
are  far  away.  You  have  ceased  to  care  for  me.  But  the  love 
you  once  had,  the  love  I  still  have,  makes  you  mine  You 
gave  yourself  to  me,  and  '  The  gods  themselves  cannot  recall 
then-  gifts.'  You  cannot  take  yours  back.  You  made  your- 
self-my  Wife.  You  may  regret  the  deed,  but  it  cannot  be 
undone. 

"It  cannot  be  undone.  I  repeat  the  words  I  wrote  bS'^SIight 
And  since  this  is  so,  why  not  try  once  more  to  be  to  each  other 
what  at  first,  we  meant  to  be?  Could  you  not  make  the  effort? 
Could  you  not  let  me  make  it  too?  I  know  that  you  despise 
me ;  I  have  given  you  cause  for  that ;  but  I  love  you  so  that  I 
beheve  I  could  win  you  back.  I  know  that  you  hate  me  I 
have  given  you  cause  for  even  that ;  but  I  love  you  so  that  I  feel 
the  power  to  compel  your  love  to  return  to  me.  Could  we  not 
begin  again?  You  are  mine.  I  am  yours.  We  are  bone  and 
bone  and  flesh  and  flesh.  We  are  one  entity.  As  long  as  we 
are  apart  we  are  cut  in  two.  We  belong  together.  I  away 
from  you,  you  away  from  me-we  Uve  only  as  the  branches 
ave  when  they  have  been  lopped  from  the  tree.  Oh  let  us  go 
back  to  one  another!  Where  are  you?  I  do  not  know  It 
IS  long  since  I  have  had  word  of  you.  But  wherever  you  may 
be,  come  back.  Or  give  me  just  one  sign,  and  I  will  go  to  you." 
365 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asund 


er 


not  grown  uid  to  ^r  a^nc^'l";  ^"  ^^  'T  y"""  ^  h«ve 
man  grows  used  to  ttost  F^h  ] ''"f  """" ''^" ''""»^"ty 
ure.  I  have  endur^Tonl.^  ^^^  ^^  ""^""^  *«  'ort- 
I  did  not  kno^  to  ^ii*°^yit;/°«f«Lr.'f-^°°>'°«''d  that 
have  been  sur-  that  if  I  ao^kJ^  7  "^""^  "  ""'^  *»'»"«'  I 
And  yet  that  is  no  aV^r^th  Tklv"  T"" 'T  "^«y- 
pride  and  anger,  though  Sey^  past'""'  *?"  "'^T  ""^ 
I  am  brought  low      I  »™  ^^      ui  j  ^ ""  chastened, 

when  he  ha'snot  Ln  ed  IT^'  t^T^'  "  'T'''"' 
presence;  if  that  is  too  much  with  a  wnH  f!?^."""  '"^  y°" 
with  a  look  ■  if  ihJi^  7  ^  .'^°''' '  'f  t^^t  is  too  much 
not  be  aSr^'s^,V'         °°  °"''''  '^"^  "  *^°"«»'t'  '-hich  wfll 

"I  know  where  vou  are     T  1,«™  i         j    "January 7. 
are  you  there?    It  ^L^trang^tl  mr™^utl*'^f    ^''^ 
morrow  I  go  to  find  you.    I  have  w^t^  !„„„      'Mtter.    To- 
you  cannot  but  admit  that  IhlLTl        ?^  ™°"8h.    Even 
never  indifferent   arso^hiv        •**"  j«f «°t-patient,  but 
If  I  ^med^yield  t^Ln  7  '"'"'°^  T  *°  ''^''«  8'°wn. 
edly,  it  wasKi  I  wS  not^alw  T  **  f^'"  ''««-•'^- 
could  not  do  sponteneoTsW    T       \°^  y°"  *^'  '^'^'^l^  y°" 
sensitive  to  P^^"  t^FeaW   tl"  '~  P?"*!  *»  P'^d.  too 
for  your  forgiveness      R  ,?t      '         ^"J^'  *°°  •'"'tal  to  ask 
wheAer  I  w™ht  or  ~^"/d  °°  'r^""    J  '^°  "<"  know 
row  to  find  you.    At  l^sTS?sil.n  ^!!?'  "^^    ^  ^*^  tO""""" 
I  shall  see  ^our  fa1^SJJ'':;t^.11i::-^t';,;;^!r'>'en. 

miin  t;irk"i^  Lr^rj""^  ^.'^^  mo;>Thiryou 

it?  Canyoubel^crud^  v^"'°°°^-  Can  you  mean 
can  you  Ly  myX^  oltr^?  'r"rwir""f^  "^  »>"' 
staggered  by  this  new  blow    sfunned  w'tV  "°*  "^f "     ^  "" 

ready  to  rardon  you,  to  ToraeSiiL^   new.nsult.   I  was 
you  to  pardon  mUenXeTlftUTj^^gnt 
366 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

I  wiU  leave  you  to  do  as  you  desire     Pn  ^„      r        .j    , 

n  »      iV-  ^     "  nonunal  freedom:  I  shall  crrf  ;«  »~, 

But  nothing  can  ever  break  the  real  )^r,A  Cl  ^  '  '°°- 
not  deceive  yourself  aboS  thaf  T„  ^''"*"  "^-     °° 

law  but  you'will  ^  vtquilhtd  bJ°tSe  dfv^nr " a'h \"^n 
that  IS  God,  by  all  that  is  Nature,  by  Si  that  "rLov.  ^  "^ 
my  wife.     I  am  vour  hiioh=„,i      v  ''°'^*'  y°"  are 

begin."       "^  J°"'«' together.    Then  your  chastisement  wiU 

thlSfl^r^rcll'^tfti-r  *^"-  ^'^'^"-^."en 
is  wrongtoTha^^'^:''eagttt^e'er;,];.T "«'"''  '"^P^"  « 
that  you  should  be  chai^d^t^o^'m^^tam  ofX"Lt^T 

other     wf  cou"d  n^er  me^^''     ^',  ^T  "°'  "^-^^  ^^^  '^<^^ 

-a-justen:a^oTuch"^  tr?ta?aSt''r^^^^^^ 

tree  that  has  loved  a  pahn     There  isn?^*        ,       the  pine- 

stand  rooted  in  my  Lren  nortWrnd     '^"u    ^  T '"'  '? 

rfouTn:':;er  ^  t  J  ^eH^  'Xv^"" '  -^  ^"  "-  K 
you  did  not  u^e^stan^  Th^  th  A  ^"^'r^^  thought  that 
make  you  undeTstand     The™  o^r^N  ""'t  '"^"T^'^  *° 

sho.d  ever^^r. llTn'  yt  ^e"  ^dtdt^   ^^  ^ 
367 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

^^^ck  and  wann  yourself  at  its  flame ;  it  wiU  be  bright  for  your 


sharp  ^v"°"u  ^^'-  "^^'^  y"  'hi"k  you  could  ne"r 
ever     The  f  T'  '^'^  "-^"''  '"''"'  '"t^^W  not  4an 

r:;  tt  i^^ToL-hraar-  "^^  '^  -^-^- -» •- 
g^i' \r  fi'^^"'%'''^"^  •*  ■«  ^  factrw!%''o^'by : 

good-bye.     The  fire  is  always    burning  in  this  poor  heart 
which  every  one  thinks  frozen;  but  you  wil   nev^comTVo 

7^  ^'T''"  "*  ''  ^"5^  ""'''■    That  hope,  d^  as  it  was    s 
ended.    Once  more,  good-bye."  ' 

Up  to  the  present  my  arms  have  been  open  to  you  T^tW  for 
your  return;  now  they  are  closed     But  no  I     r  ^    ,  ""5 
it.    The  love  I  had  for^you,  the'pjy  I^JJmtve!mi:  ^gen! 
368 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

^i^rcZ'i z;'2zr  ^"^ ^^ •»- yo. do^ 

you  have  mingled.     You  wi^"  "T  ''""''  "'  *he  cup  S 
were  to  look  towarHQ  K~  ""  '™n — even  fhor.      r 

a-  your  hus^:? ^otTe  T  T'"  ^^  '' "o^X  J°I 

ever,  good-bye,  good-byel"  ^«^"'  and  I  suppose  for^ 

very  «,d  she  bowed  h"  h'eS  „Sn  Sif  "'^"'  *°  «>« 
Oh,  Harry,  my  husband  "^  ^  ^^^^  ^nd  sobbed 
rae,  after  all.  WhydWIl  ^'^^  °'°«"«'.  "you  lov^ 
m  this  strange  pfec'ti  hTw^  ^^"^  Why  am  I  W? 
not  my  husband-  this  U  It  ^"^^  ""^n?  This  is 
you?  Don't  you  knol  T  ,  °'  "^  ''"'"e.  Where  are 
you  ail  alongr  "       °"^  ^  ^°^^  you?-that  I  have  lov^ 

'^Wh?t7'^'T"*"P^'*acry. 

-If?    Whos™  wif^Cf,    S-*  --  I  naaldng  of  my 

r-TeiJ^a-K?-^^^^ 

He^  Hands,  andrdltXhSitS'-  ^-"' 

one  &,.S::tt  ir'^-'"Pa-n;  I  have  had  H  , 

.--^rrt^-rfst&Sl"'^ 

„  ""  "a^'e.  niakes  you 

369 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

"You  are  mine.  I  am  yours.  We  are  bone  and  bone  and 
flesh  and  flesh.    We  are  one  entity." 

"N<  ing  can  ever  break  the  real  bond  between  us.  Do 
not  deceive  yourseU  about  that.  You  may  control  human 
taw,  but  you  wiU  be  vanquished  by  the  divine.  And  by  aU 
that  IS  God,  by  all  that  is  Nature,  by  aU  that  is  Love,  you  are 
my  wife. 

''  Only  when  the  living  heart  can  be  torn  out  of  the  living 
body  can  your  existence  be  wrenched  out  of  mine." 

"  Oh,  unhappy  woman — I" 

But  she  could  read  no  more.  She  flung  the  paper 
from  her  and  fell  npon  her  knees. 

"Harry  dear  Harry,  spare  mel"  she  muttered,  brc 
kenly.  "  I  have  wronged  you.  I  was  bitter  to  you.  But 
oh,  take  me  back  I  Let  me  come  home.  I  am  afraid. 
Everything  here  is  so  mysterious  and  awful.  I  don't 
know  what  Dick  means.  I  don't  know  why  he  is  so 
silent  and  strange.  I  don't  even  know  why  he  mar- 
ried me.  Come  for  mel  Help  me  to  escape  I  It  is  like 
living  in  a  nightmare.  I  am  your  wife.  We  gave  each 
other  our  young  love;  we  were  to  each  other  what  we 
could  be  to  no  one  else,  what  no  one  else  can  ever  be 
to  us.  All  the  consecration  that  makes  two  beings  one 
came  down  on  us  and  made  us  man  and  wife.  We  are 
the  living  heart  in  the  living  body;  to  be  torn  asunder 
is  like  death.  I  know  it,  Harry.  I  have  always  known 
it.  But  I  was  ignorant,  wilful,  and  wicked.  They  per- 
plexed me  with  their  laws  and  lies.  They  made  me 
think  the  unnatural  natural  and  the  false  true.  But 
I  have  learned  better.  I  am  your  wife.  I  am  not  Dick's. 
I  am  only  Dick's — " 

She  sprang  to  her  feet  again.     The  blood  surged  into 
her  face  and  receded  suddenly,  leaving  her  pale.     The 
room  seemed  to  swim  around  her,  and  she  leaned  on  the 
high  back  of  a  chair  to  keep  herself  steady. 
370 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

I'Wck's  what?;;  she  asked  herself. 
.  ™s  nustress/'came  the  reolv  a«  ,f  J»r        j  t 
voice  outside  her     "h;=      •  .P'^'.^^  "  delivered  by  a 

"St'c^^V"  T'  "^"■y  '^^««''"'«  wife." 
voicSounliniSSih';'?  ^""^'.-^""^  ^'-d.  her 
made  a  suddc^  SoTement  Ske  a?''r^  '''^  ^°°'»-  ^he 
to  wrench  itself  fTee  "Ta'  t-LnS"^  '^!  ^"^"^1  t^J^ng 
dry,  hard  voice,  fuH  of  a  t^H  '^^'  "'"^.'•^P^«t«J.ina 
uation.     "If  I  am    h,  1        ^^'  recogmtion  of  her  sit- 

man'smistresi^^n'.teirrh^f^!  ^  ?™  «>«  "*« 
K  I  am  still  Harrv'fwi  e  it  at  r  "  *°°  ''""• 

^^^KrrsiE^^s:  hurst 

down  the  r^m.  As  she  passTa  • '"'^,!^  "^  ^^ 
wjth  its  Ion,,  tread,  seemedThl:,f"Srthar  f'^'"''' 
lelme   creature   in  a  cao-e      uZ  ^^  °^  ^^"^^ 

expression  of  a  mufed^n  thi^      very  eyes    had   the 

less,  pathetic  paSfo?  omf  "S?""'^  "  ^^^'- 
escape.  '^"'"^  unhoped-for  means  of 

"K  I  am  still  Harry's  wife  I  am  a  f=li 
I  am  still  Harry's  wife  I  ana  f^^  "^T^"'     " 

.   Sherepeated^lhet^rLme^hanSllTT.' 
'""l7?r'".^rS*  to  be  taken  in  auif^inc?"''  '"^^"- 

I  ^^'nkZyT.^'^ltlllr'^'^^^^^^^  And 
Igavemysdf  tohfminlway  wWcS  !  ^  "^^  ^f^" 
back.  Nature  itself  IL  one  t  t^  1  "?x^V^'^"« 
a  divorce?    The  tearing  of  ^  frj^^^^  ai^flti^ 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

from  flesh.  If  it  were  a  possible  thing  it  would  be  a 
cnme  against  Nature.  But  it  isn't  a^^posl^ble  tW^g 
Oh,  I  wonder  .f  other  women  feel  as  I  do?!  kno^^ 

rnTert°the';'  ^T*  '^"^  '^"^^"'^  '»  ^usSd  I 
Tr^fTi,  'j^'^y.T"^  •>«ve  moments  like  this?  I  won- 
der  If  they  don't  have  days  when  Nature  asserts  h  J^U 
aW  sophistry,  and  they  o.n  themselves  whatlhly 

inf^l^^"^,"^  ^rf  *'°^"  ^""^  '■"""'J  ^nd  ™«nd-  turn- 
bv^thp  f«M  "^^  '■''"  "  *'«^*""-  Suddenly  she  s topped 
K£n  Sn'.^""  ^"^"^'^«>  ""^  ^^ '°-  ^heetsTe 
''' You  may  tear  yourself  away  from  me,'"  she  read 
you  may  go  where  you  will  and  become  what Tou 
wU  you  may  tell  yourself  never  so  often  that  I  am 
nothing  to  you  and  that  you  are  nothing  to  me  Z 
m  your  heart  there  will  always  be  the  knowledge!  how 
ever  unavowed,  that  we  are  man  and  wife.'    Yef ;  t^aTs 

^:i  w  ^'»'"^"t«J-  "That  knowledge  is  in  my 
heart.     We  are  man  and  wife  "  ^ 

hands.  *"™^  ""^  ^^^  ^^^^  ^"'^  ^«»  trembUng 

/''The  farther  you  go  from  me,'"  she  read  again 

the   more   persistently   will   your   thoughts   rehVrn 

rrfu"s?t"f'  "'"  1''  '''  "'^^'  -en  wZ  your  ips 
refuse  to  frame  the  word.'  But  they  don't  refuse  any 
longe^  Harry,"  she  whispered,  hoarsely.     "I  adLH 

I  hf  forgotten  you;  you  seemed  so  far  away  it  was 
as  If  I  had  outhved  you;  and  now,  0  heart  of  my  Wtl 
you  are  back  with  me,  claiming  me,  maste/ng  me 
when  I  am  only  a  fallen  woman  who  dares  norrftum: 
If  I  am  your  wife  I  am  his  mistres.s-mistressl-n^ 
tressl-mistress!  Who  ever  could  have  prSd  fta^ 
such  a  name  should  one  day  be  applied  to  Te?  J  vS 
372 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

She  crushed  the  pTge  in  hX^A  T  ^^:" 
on  the  table,  and  ^ggercd    „  Z    "^T,""?  "  "'^mn 
leaned  on  it  to  suppwf  herse)     f    r  '"«"t'='-P«-«-    She 
"I  suppose,"  sh^n^^'e^  \1  ;,5^''^^^^^^^^^^    -f>  ^aint. 
moments  as  this  that  ooonl.  Z    ,i     .,       "  "  '"  s"ch 
They  want  .omVonerdo  thT'     "^  '•'j?"'"-''^'^''  «  ««<«• 
pray.     If  I  believ^  in  a  °oJl  sTu''''"'  ^"^  ^  "''-■>' 
there  is  nothing  ^  aH  flu        •       "'"^  P^^'  *°°-    B"t 
to  take  n,e  out  of  the  net  ^  whichTH^T'^'y  '^"°"«h 
0  Godl-God  whom  Ha^v  V      \^^''  '^"  ^«"«ht. 
Lechmere  believes  .^f-ff^  Vassall  serves  and  Dick 
with  me,  as  they  wo  JlT  tell  meX  """'  '"  "j'^  ^°"'" 
cry  to  you,  out  of  all  Ve   dc^th,     f  ^""  ^"'-  ^  ^°"''' 
to  come  and  help  me     B^.tT        "^  ""  woman's  xvoe, 
such  Godl    If  Kved  ?s  ,n "u  "'',  "?"    ^^"'^  '■«  no 
call  upon  what  ifS  Lorheln,"'^  ^^^  ""=  ^'^  '''"^ 

But  a  sudden  change  cTn     o'lt  h^r  "l"  '"^^'^''■'.' 
of  terror  passed  for  an  ;„=i     *  •*"  expression 

began  oncfmofe  to  U^  /he^^^L!'"''^^  "^^^  ^^^     ^he 

try  not  to  givfway  "  ""'"  *  "^  ^»°««h.     I  must 

"^"i^^^t^  -PetS'sheTfolSd'  ""''-'  ''- 

I  shall  break  my  own  heart  first     rr,r'^'"'\ ''^^'■ 
everything  I  ever  believedTn^of  h  Id  Lt e  ""^'  °"* 

baS't  £r  ch«kThrrhrj""r'r  "^-^  •^*-'-- 

her  eyes.     She  look^'  KerteKhh'"'"'^'  "^"'"  ■" 

A  hard  smile  began  to  gb-m™b;i^:?^- ^PP--'- 

373 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"You've  been  frightened  by  a  ehost  "  she  «iM  .j 
dre«.ng  her  reflection  in  the  Vai    Vt   ,.  ^'t 

dJrL'l  rf  V"  '?"""  ^  ■"°'«'  courageous.    The 
day  isn  t  lost.    There  is  still  something  left  to  fiX 
or.    You  must  be  strong  and  daring,  and  never  awfn 
to  a  su,p.„on  upon  your  own  honor     Hai^y  Va^" 
must  be  nothing  to  you.     If  his  image  is  sUH  inZr 

at  whatTC-?*'  I^,«Pi«=-hatheha^swritte^  Hugh 
at  what  he  thinks.  Show  neither  weakness  nor  m^y 
for  otherwise  you  are  lost.  You  are  lost,  do  you  hS 
You  must  be  Dick  Lechmere's  wife.  It  is  Xt  «tle 
Sd^,n  r'  ^^ry"  "'^If-^-tecm.  and  enables  you  to 
hold  up  your  head  among  men.  You  must  cling  to  it 
yourself;  you  must  let  no  one  question  your  ri^ht /„ 
wear  it.     For  you  Harry  VasJl  is  like  a  dead'^SU 

s"b.^r  ^"1"P^  ^t^^"'^""^'  ^^'^  Lechmere's  wife^' 

bhe  turned  from  the  mirror  slowly.     She  was  calmer 

Her  color  died  away  again,  but  her  excitement  dT^! 

"Yes,  I  must  be  Dick's  wife,"  she  assenterl       "T 
must  be  that.    I  must  be  that,     i  must  Kfrry  ou 
forever.     I  have  no  choice  about  it.     EveryVWng  dl 
Ta"^""?  "Z^T^  ^-     The  lot  is  cast,and  I  mus^ 

«et  broken  ^r^  '  (^'' '  '""^'  "^'-^  ^^'Z 
lie  is  broken.     The  man  I  love  is  nothing  to  me  anv 

more.     I  am  Dick's  wife.     I  am  Dick's  wife."  ^ 

bhe  moved  slowly  towards  the  table  and  gathered 

She  folded  them  with  care.  Then,  stooping,  she  lafd 
them  on  the  fire  and  watched  them  bum 

-riT^h^JT  rtV^'  ^r.  ^*"  "«  ^^y  but  slowly. 
The  sheets,  bordered  by  a  faint  edge  of  flame  grw 
cnsp  and  curled  apart.  Here  and  th^™  ♦!,»  i.„5„  _. 
writing  became  legible.    Petrina  bent  ( 


"Love  as  great  as  mine 


and  read : 


374 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

"The  love  I  still  have—" 
"Oh,  let  us  go  back  to  one  anotheiW 
I  am  your  husband;  you  are  my  wife  " 
torever  good-bye— good-bye  I" 
But  the  fire  burned  up  more  briskly,  and  a  auick. 
eaping  flame  blotted  out  all  the  rest.    A  f"  w  mSi^tM 
ater  there  was  nothing  left  of  the  record  of  v3^ 
love  but  a  litUe  heap  of  ashes. 

Petrina  turned  from  the  fire,  and,  walkinir  to  the 
wmdow,  laid  her  forehead  against  the  pane      * 

n,„.f  t  t  .  """Z-  "^^  "'""""'•ed.  "I  don't  cure.  I 
must  not  love  lum.  I  don't  love  him.  I  love  Dick 
He  IS  my  husband.     I  don't  care  " 

She  choked  back  the  sob  which  rose  as  if  in  protest 
agamst  her  words^  and  tried  to  rega      her  s^l"-^:^* 

wn^JH  ^         '"^  *".*/'  *^"  «"     »g  d«.rk.    Dick 

thing  had  happened  to  unnerve  her.  ^ 

th^half  *°  ^'^  ^°°''  "''*  ""^'^^^  "  ^""^  ^'^  "'    nto 

van"""  ^'   ^^^^^  returned?"  she  asked  a  ser- 

up.sSr?:"  '"^^^  '•*"  *°'"^"-    ""^^  '^^  '"«*  gone 
Petrina  went  up  too,  dragging  herself  wearily 
Her  own  room,  as  she  entered  it,  was  dark,  but  the 

'fcL'eT  '^°"?''  *^'  *'^"-°P^"  ^'^^  *Wch  led  into 
J.echme.es  dressing-room.  Instinctively  she  paused 
and  looked  within.  Under  the  hanging  lamp  IS 
mere  was  standing  partially  turned  tow^ards  her  I„ 
fes  left  hand  which  fell  at  his  side,  he  grasped  a  new^ 
paper  He  had  apparently  been  reading  it.  Petrina 
noticed  unconsciously  that  it  was  the  Paris  Fi^^ 
^  his  nght  hand  he  held  a  mimature,  into  whicfhe 
was  gazmg  eamesUy.  Petrina  knew  it  to  be  the  Uke- 
375 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
ness  of  Felicia  de  Prony,  that  alwavs  sfn™i   Ko   j 
his  bed.    When  he  had  lookSiong  he^iisSIhe  ^•'*'' 
lature  to  his  lips.  raised  tne  mm- 

txhJXl^r  ^"u"^  ^"^'^  '««'  ^°'ds  to  me."  Pe- 
tnna  thought,  aa  she  sank  into  a  chair  art!  sighed 


CHAPTER  ni 

He  came  and  stood  before  her     In  *l,o  j    i 
could  not  see  his  face    bi,t  fhTi,  j         darkness  she 
trouble.  '     "*  ^^^  ^^  ^  premonition  of 

no7sS*"'  '''  '"^""■"  ^'•^  '"''"'^«^'  -hen  he  did 

n^Sp^lrp^neT^^lStSi^^ 
ShaU  you  be  gone  long?"  ^rony. 

I  can't  tell  yet.     It  may  be  a  week     Ttm=„k 

I  will  write  to  you, "  "^^  °^  ™°''e- 

Other  questions  were  on  her  lins   h„*  <=»,„  ,1      j       , 

put  them.     She  was  trembhng  ^ih  fL,     Auf  "u 

she  might  lose  him     She  haH     ■         I       ..^  ^"' 

but  heiight  be  t'ed  alrLSy'ofV  jJrH^"  •*'•!!,' 

not  be  dastardly;  she  was  sure  of  tW  ^  n  .  ^^-°"W 

of  the  one  love  of  his  hTe  were  to  ^  ,"  ^"  '^        '^" 

be  deaf  to  any  claims  thT.lZ        tj    '"'"  ^^  -°"'<1 

heedless  of  any  Sn  shlmigt  h'v^to'"'  i"'"''  %^^ 

knew  that  she  ^uld  couS  te  n^fl         f  ^T"     S**^ 

Prony  were  to  speak  *^"^  '^  ^^^'^^  <le 

377 


3 


f{ 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asund 


cr 


"I  sha'n't  remain  longer  than  I  can  help,"  he  added 
as  she  remained  silent. 

"Very  well,"  she  replied. 

"You  might  have  Emmy  de  Bohun  come  to  stay 
with  you.    Or  you  might  stay  with  her." 

^  Possibly.     We  will  see." 

•] I'm  sorry,  Petrina.     I  hope  you  don't  mind." 
Certainly  not,    she  answered,  rising.     "If  you  have 
business  you  must  attend  to  it.     Can  I  do  anything 
to  help  you  pack?"  -uyuung 

•'  No,  thanks.     Brooks  is  seeing  to  that. " 
^^  Then  you  will  not  be  here  to  dinner'" 

♦^  \^Y^  f'^^^f^'-y  ^""^  t™e.  I  must  take  the  six- 
twenty-five  to  Charing  Cross." 

No  more  was  said.  Petrina  maintained  her  calm 
demeanor  until  he  had  gone.  But  when,  after  dinnw 
she  was  alone  in  the  sitting-room,  where  she  had  speni 
the  afternoon,  she  began  to  seek  the  reasons  for  this 

^"^JTT^;,  ^"  ^^^""•^^  ^^^  remembered  the 
Ftgaro  she  had  seen  m  his  hand.  She  had  paid  no 
attention  to  it  then,  but  now  it  became  importa.it 

there  was  something  in  it,"  she  said.     "I  wonder 
if  he  has  left  it  behind. "  wonaer 

She  hurried  up-stairs,  and,  lighting  a  candle,  went 
into  lus  room.  Yes,  there  was  the  journal  folded  neat- 
ly and  laid  m  a  comer.     She  looked  at  the  date  and 

•  ".  *  ^fju^^'^y't  ^'  ^^^  ^^^  ^°Py  ^hich  had  ar- 
rived at  Oldbams  that  afternoon.  She  put  down  her 
candle,  and  took  the  paper  in  her  hands.  She  passed 
over  the  political  article  by  "Whist,"and  the  diloague by 
Alfred  Capus.  She  looked  rapidly  through  the  "  Echos  " 
but  there  was  nothing  there,  and  over  "  Hors  Paris  "  but 
there  was  nothing  there.  In  "Le  Monde  et  la  Ville" 
Tifl!/"*^"'ii^*"'''^  nothing;  but  in  the  "Courrier  des 
1  hsatres  the  name  she  was  seeking  caught  her  eye 
378 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
A/IX^P.^^TV*"  '■"^"''"  P^Wna  read,  "que 

P^na  let  the  journal  fall. 
•    ■„''.'  f**^  **'^  *°  herself;  "yes,  I  thought  <in     <5l,« 

bhe  sank  into  an  arm-chair  and  stared  with  Hnll 

has  come  sooner  than  he  thought     I  wSh  I  h  J^ 
burned  the  writing      R.,f   „„     ■?         ^  '  "^^"  * 

.elves  .nconsolable.    Besides,  in  m^l^y^  me'he  Z 
379 


Lee  Not  Man  Pu,  Asunder 
«oj«l  to  H.„y.    H.  «d„-t  think  or  it  at  6„t  W  I 

^she  rose  and  went  down-ifnirc     ti.„ 
his  nan,e  betwefn 'wS  Lia^d^^nfaU  "tL?w'"' 

380 


Let  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

fron.  Athens^ ConsLnZontn",'^"^  ^"'^  C^^™'-  then 
He  was  evidenUy  SS'S^-^fu'*^' '»"''  Vienna, 
some  will-o'-the  wisnnth^  «;.^^  '''°"&h  following 
looked  ten  years  Zr  nfsa  JnTv  '  '^'"'^  ^^^^  hf 
asked  no  questions  but  sh!  tf  ?u'""^'  ^"'^  P^trina 
been  i„  vain.  '''*  ^""^^  ^^^t  his  search  had 

"Where  did  Dirk  o-n?"  u    -i-     .    _ 
day  iust  after  £ctnf;re  rel^'^  '^  ^'""^  -'^^^  one 

-nXuo1ivttn?4To/h  °^'"^*°'^  P-'^' ^''t- 
was  keen  to  see,  and  she  hl^ff'  '*"''"'^-     ^"t  ^nuny 
Little  by  Kttle  she  "old  the^^f  p™'"^  for  comfort 
lived.  °  ^^  Sreat  fear  under  which  she 

"F^S  SteiirrC'?"^'  ^^^  ''^  Bohun. 
America.  When  she  mini^  u  '"  ^^^P*-  She's  in 
i^e  she  acceptrf  an  nff '"'.''  ^  ^^^<^°  ^^  La  Pot," 
San  Francisco  Wori"  Seh  T  ^r^Orleans  or 
track  of  her  and  told  me  «„  rf  ^  ?  u  ?«"*'^  >^^P« 
h.m,  he  would  have  Wn  «,  L^'^'^ ''^'' ""'y  a^ked 
trouble."  ^  "^^  «^^ed  a  lot  of  time  and 

eX*2  n!,T'tfe"Pf"- Pleaded, 
did;  for  before  Chn-stari  ^^^^^  ^^^^^  Gertie 

readyforus/'h  lid     ^-^thint  ^''^''^'  '°  ''^  ™-de 
.t  hasn't  been  lived  fn  for  yt  "s  /°"  ^"  "'^'^ "'  *ough 

heartr^rSraXzeYa^i  TfTf^  ^^*"-'  ^^^se 
nounceraent.  ^        ^*  *^  ^rst  words  of  his  an- 

381 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


I  may  be  a  long  lime 


"I  think  it  would  be  better 
over  there." 

not  S  Ws'i^?'  "'''  •"  "  ^°'^^  ^  ^^^  *at  it  did 

again  of  if  so  noSl       "'  "'^''  '"J^*"™  *"  America 
why?  she  asked     K V"T  ^'^"  '^^'^  «°"^  »'y-     B»t 


CHAPTER  IV 

n/l"^  ''°T  .  ^**""^  ^'^'*  "  ^  ^^o-n  'he  first  hour 
at  the  Meerstead-the  old  Lechmere  place  on  the  ul 
lands  behind  Brookline.  "P^ 

The  house  had  long  been  uninhabited,  and  the  fur- 
nishings were  faded  and  old-fashioned;  but  the  rooms 
were  stately  and  cheerful  with  winter  sunshine.     The 
land  had  been  the  Lechmeres'  meerstead  from  very 
early  times  m  Boston.     It  had  been  at  first  a  farm- 
the  Lechmeres  themselves  were  farmers.     They  were 
a  dreamy,  fanatical  race,  but  at  the  same  time  thrifty 
Z%^  Boston  grew  in  importance  they  increased  iii 
wealth.     From  bemg  yeomen  they  became  gentlemen. 
To  their  farm  they  added  merchandise,  and  each  gen- 
CTation  made  some  advance  upon  the  last.     After  the 
Revolution  the  Lechmeres  of  his  day  replaced  the  farm- 
house by  a  colomal  mansion,  which,  in  turn,  about 
^^'^i'  ^  *r  ^^'  ^?^^  P'^'^^  *°  ^  ^""  ^^^Ser  dwelling, 
pJ^l  i  T^T^u"^-  *u^"*!  Z"""  *^^  P«e"do<lassical. 
People  said  that  old  Richard  Lechmere  had  copied  the 
White  House  on  a  smaller  scale;  but,  whether  this  was 
so  or  not,  the  long  building,  with  its  pillared  portico 
and  generous  steps,  produced  a  dignified  effect  as  seen 
on  the  summit  of  its  low,  well  -  timbered  hiJi    The 
Lechmeres  had  held  tenaciously  to  the  Meerstead  when 
their  neighters  had  long  ago  sold  their  lands  and 
moved  into  fine  town-houses  in  Boston.     What  was  at 
lirst  a  farm,  and  was  still  modestly  called  "  the  grounds  " 
was  really  something  of  a  park,  with  nothing  of  the 
383 


1  I 


Let   Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
^cultu«l    except    the    „,eadows    and    lar,e   gar- 

long  hour's  drive-that  .r^ff  ^u  ^""^  Boston-a 
she  meant  to  U ve  thS  Lf^'t^^'  '"''"^'°«-  ««d 
spacious  cloister  *  ^  '"''**^  """  «  «  rather 

Bi^^sS'^:j^CSer^"«S,^J-o  fro.  the  fact  that 

England  the  drrkesfshade  of  ^'T   had   sailed   from 

from  his  face,  and  there  were  tLr''°l^  ^^  ""«* 
ful  in  a  simple  natur^f  u,  I  ?  ""^^  ^^  *«s  cheer- 

To  be  at  «^  M^' tl^H^'-'^^u'^  "^•^^  P«''«a  hope, 
him.  Thoujh  Xd  soT"  ^''  ^^""^  ^«f^'  "P^n 
old  place,  an'd\ffect3  ^0/^^^  ^  Y'^  °"  ^ 
he  was  there  amid  tl,»  r!,  ^  ?  '*'  ^^^  n°w  that 
heart  gre^  h  J/  ^'  t^rT%°^  '''"  ^y''°°d'  ^s 

in  his  pl^s^orlmomv.wT.f*"'"'.^"''  ^"^^  P'«^«"re 
was  lateTl4bn3^IXi  /'^'f  *"^  S'°""ds.  It 
a  little  hi^t  of  S^'  ^pJ!f  '^^^'^  ,^'°"ght  with  them 

sensible  to  their  Se,^  'If  T"'^  T^  ^  <!""«  i"" 
ing  whether  X  all  fh"'/"''  found  herself  wonder- 

her  again.  She  would  WnT'  T*"*  "°'  """'^  ^°' 
she  told  herse5  bTeveS  fn  .  ''°''*"'"  ^*"'="y'  «» 
terests  which  make  thUv  ""T^^  *''^'^  ^^^  «- 
sadly.  ^  '•'^  '•^y^  P«««  hy  not  altogether 

wit^e^j^'uS''hVwrd''tr'  ^'^'^  ^-  «»- 

it  seemed  toherl^iftrSllS-r^^^^^ 
384 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

self;  but  when  she  ^wlj^',''?''^'^,  ^^  '»  her- 
would  try  to  thrust  s^chf  ""^^''"gly  kind,  she 
spoke  no";  of  f5c  L 'Tt^Slr^,,  ^^^  "-" 
to  learn  whether  or  not  I Uu  '™P°««We  for  Petrina 
«^e's  presence  in  Wk^^.r  ^"^'^  °^  '^'''  f°nner 
Wm  closely,  and  ^  to Intemtr- '"""  ""^^  ^^'^^^ 
thejr  most  probableTig^STe      "^"'  ^'='=°"''"^  '<> 

fort  rhfr^Servtrtrhe^r.'^."  ^^  «  — 
ceive  letters  withouTLnini  h  .u"^  "^"^  "°'  ^^en  re- 
therefore,  one  nSng  K:n?J  T '?u^-  ^■'>-' 
going  to  drive  into  Boston  ^H  i^^""  ^^  ^«  '^as 
evening  she  was  sudSyVrl"""''  ""'  '^*"™  «" 

with'^^tLTimibTto^: '"'  r^"  ^»"«  -'^^^^ 

"Hardin  "  uf  ""'"^^'O'e  to  conceal. 
tooS"!^^'    '>^^««--«J-    "Therearesomany things 

I'm  su^her^^  Vt^J^r^  ^"^  ^-  "  'o  Jones. 

And  I'm  sure  I  ran  "  r     i. 
smile.    It  was  his  nTw 'sm^lf '^"'■"  '"f'^'^'  ^"th  a 
sanity  which  she  hTd  reSklJ     f  ??'"  °^  '=''^^"1 
felt  slightly  reassur^    '^'^'^^  °f  late-and  so  she 

^s^i^'t£rdf;,to'rriirar  r^^i;  •^-^  ^-  - 

•settHng"th<   housTrheytT       ^^^  ^^re  still 
tnbuted  such  objects  as  thevh.^K  ""If'^l^ed  and  dis- 
and  were  now  icupS  i„^aS,''!■°"S^,*  f^"""  abroad, 
celain  and  plate  after  XT  ^"^"^n&  the  family  por 
in  which  sh^LtlfghTed  Vnf  ;/r^"     ''  ^««  ^  ^^ 

had  been  one  ofteT^^^f-J^/or  m^^^^^^^ 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

'<«t  heart.  She  placedTh  iL^ff  ?.'  '*«''»'"««  »he 
the  drawing-room  a^d  tLn  TJ?"^  °"  "  ««"«  ^n 
watched  himS  dow„?h?i  "'""""*  '^  «  ^"^ow. 
town.  *  *'°"'"  "»«  '""K  avenue  towards  the 

its^i^cu^1t"i;?d'^i:l":^"  "^^^  -"-  "-e  cart  and 

She  waf'vagry'irha^;^  TheT  "'  ''"'''•'^  *'-"• 
oncf  to  grow  laroir  »J?i^^"    T^  '*°"^*  ^^""ed  all  at 

from  the^iLow  her  surrn"''.''"-  ^''«»  »•"=  '"'"«! 
come  strange  asTh„,!lhT^"!l'^"^''  ^"^  suddenly  be- 

She  had  a  fetur^'SeVear  fhatT  '^'""^  l"°"«  «"->• 
her  there  merely  to  T^f-M  u  t  ''"^'""^''^ '»«'' '>™"Kht 
fort,  and  thlMhe  t£''£^„''^  '"  '*[«'^'y  «"d  com- 
come  back  no  more      ^       ^  ''''"''  *»*  ''«'•  8°"^.  to 

Sh!^:iJt'°tirSldt'S.w.^  ""'^  *"  ^--"  't  down, 
here,  now  there  sSrn^r  u?'"  ^"'"  P'«=«l  "  ""w 
her  mind  was  ^'ot  ^Ik/tatf  wf  "*'  ^^*-  «"' 
bowl  it  looked  awkward  an^nL  Wherever  she  put  the 
At  last  she  leffTtl^^Slv  „„  "f  Kr*^"  °^  ''^«=«'- 
and  resolved  to  riveX  a«onf-  !  fu '^  '"  *  «=°"»". 
the  pictures  She  vl5  .  ."''°"  '°  *«  rehanging  of 
leys  together  fnl  Kaf '^''^  ^'''^  '°  ?«*  the  K 

before  it.  Judge  Ea^/?  ^u'"^  ""^^  "''^  ^«=°"ed 
century  smalWolhes  and  ^  ^  Tr,'  '"  «gh'eenth- 
Per's,  glanced  at  her  wi  n  .  ?f  *  ^t^  *"  P°^t  Cow- 
though  D^ck-s  own^;3:fweV°S'estrs  hrsh: 

386 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
passed  hurriedly  on  to  PenHl„,w.  i     u 
pnm  young  i.^^^^  mui^anrblu ^'^JT'^'  ,"  "'•''"'^ 
'he  girl,  too,  had  the  L«-hrn«,  nbboned  cap;  but 

tical,  gentle,  and  Lcrnc^UW  ^  r*"'""'''"'^' ">>■- 
"CM.     Even  though  it  wa,  «  «unn    *"'  ^''y  '"^«'i'- 

-e  to  ,,,„,,  thetlZrnffiSj  tfd 

she''".;!?  ^S^ste  £  Tnf  r  '"'  -"'*''"  ''-. 
^rhaps  Dick  Luirntyt^Z^^^J^'^^'^'^  -''- 
cormng  an  obsession,  and  she   tL  ^  'u'-''?  ^'"^  ''^- 
She  turned  her  back  upon  the  rt  J         *°  ^'"''^'^  ''  "« 
;ng  eyes,  and  went  slowly  dof.?^^'  *'"^  ">«-  haunt- 
o  fix  her  attention  on^mer  ^^^ '°°'"'  endeavoring 
looking  to  the  eastward  ^TcLu^f, ''"".     ^'  ^  ^'"^ow 
outward.     Far  awav   nv.r  ^,'"^,^"^  gazed  absently 
landscape,  two  sUr'sri^^'  ^  of  undulating  winter 
They  were  the  spirTs  0^0^!  rr^K°".'  ''^^'"^'  t'"'  «ky- 
told  her  so  one  day  andSnr^^lT^"!^"'  ^^^"^^re  had 
without  thinking  ^f  Harry  VastH  ^'^Th '^"  "^"^  ^''- 
questions  concerning  him  to  whfl    u  ^"^  '^'^'"^  many 
glad  to  know  the  answeT     Had  h.t'  ^°"l^  ^'''■'  ^'^^ 
returned?    Would  he  shrink  frn^     '^^^  ^^^^  '^'  h«d 
^he  shrink  from  meeting  wt^'Tr  T'""^  ^''-     ^'^ 
how  should  thev  erepf  !S,.u    /u    ,    "^^  ^ei^e  to  meet 
ciful?    ShouldThe  be  aSot^''^  ^°"'''  '^'=  •"=  »■«  ' 

She  was  still  p^nderin^  1^^^..^^  self-control? 
of  carriage-wheeK:  "^£;i^,/h-^«  -{i-  «  -und 
thai  some  old.  unwelcome  Jrien.  1  "'  ^^'  '''""^^t 
m  on  her  seclusion  anTered  her  '"S^l*^"™"^  to  break 
was  terrible  abroad  was^J^f  n  ^^l  ■"'°'""de  which 
Massachusetts.  She  Tema' n^V,TTu '''^  '^^  ^^^  in 
«ng,  while  the  door  was  Zn^  \  ^^  "^'"^"^^  "sten- 
was^^ned  and  some  one  entered 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

pSZ^T'h"  ""  *^"'"  announced. 

ple«.u«*  It  could  „"?bijKS"  tr"^'"""'  ""'"^  '""> 
embarraMment,  and  after  th.  fi  '^'"'""  "*'"»'«*  "^'h 
both  women  w^re  confuL  pT  *''T'i"«f»  ^''^  °v" 
a  sofa,  where  thev«;T^'  ^J''?^  '*<*  »«''  K"e«t  to 
toward,  Soth^wonX'li''''  by  «de   M  turning 

^anltiw^'^'^'''  •'■"''  ''-^"  W"-  Va.«ll  be- 

the  "de'T'wS^  5^^*^" ke^SKtil.lJ^'^ 
evening  "  "*  *^'"  not  be  back  till 

"I  hope  you  will  never  hesitate  apain      It  ■ 

camUtdfaTd^he'r'"^  '"  Mrs.  ^.as Ju",  face  be- 

"  Wh.iu'  u         .   ^'^^'^ '"°''«  nervous  >han  before 
"  A  STh        ^'""^"J'  '"^  "  *Ws,"  she  beran  bnTsouelv 

one."  '  '^^"-    ^t  ™e  nng  for  some 

388 


Let   Not   Man    Put   Asunder 
fell  rather  faint  for  a  min.,#!f  k  .    f'*^"*  K°  »"•     I 

•teaing  on  the  world.     But^^^    »' Judgment  were 
what  must  be  heaH,  and  whe„  ,h«      "^  ^'^"  <°  »>««' 
"  Ves?"  she  said  still  h^5^     .^  "^^^  "  «'as  calmly 
what  then,  deaS  vi^J'".?  **»'=  °"'«'»  hand.  "S 

"Ohr"''  '*''*''*  ''*'•" 

"I  couldn't.    Shewa««.ri, 
not  at  all  a  lady."  "^  "  "''^  ^"""non  person- 

"  What  did  you  do?" 

'' VoTiJe":^-.'^^:,^' -'?lj°°k  „er  address." 
"Some  money.    Oh  not  Zr^*"  '"  amazement, 
cany  her  over  a  few  days!^  ""'*''  ''"^'Hust  enough  to 
And  she  took  it?" 

as  '^^o^s^$\T.ZTKr^7  "in''  '"^•-ned. 
that  the  stoo.  she  told  m;  wasn't  fJi'    J  ""  "°  '''^"ht 

r;^  ''-r.iry  "-^thout  dZgTmeth^''  ''p  ^  '^°"''''''' 
I  didn't  believe  her  I  cried  wk^^"  ^^^n  though 
It  was  so  pitiful."         "^  ^''^"  «he  told  me  her  tafe 

tell  me  wVafsheIa°d  '^  ^  ''"'"^  "°*'''"«  about  it.    Do 

canJheth^TogSh^r.'Iro?;  Jr^'  ^""^  '^''^P^  we 
I  *h.nL  they'd  take  her.   'psTMS^a^th: 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

head  of  it-such  a  wise  person-who  has  had  great  ey: 

penence  with  women  of  that  class."  ^      '  ^"^ 

Women  of  what  class?    Do  tell  me  quickly     I'm 

and  mixed  you  all  up  together  in  such  a  way  th^  J 
^t^-n"*!  1V^^'  '^'  ""^"t-     She  said  oveTa'Li  ove 
to^toir^she  LT'  """  'T'"""'''^  "■^'^'  ^"^  -  -«™^ 

Fpl.-^'i^'™^''^  "^r  "^""^  ^*  °««  time  to  Madame 
Fehcia  de  Prony.  who  used  to  be  a  singer  of  some Te 

;;i  knew  that     This  woman  said  it  was  her  name." 
Uid  you  tell— your  son?" 

po's'sSj  K:.'^''  *"'  '"'"'*  ""'"^*^"''  ''"^ "  -"'d 

."  M*"  *^°  ^'    -^^  ^'^"'t  '^^e  '^^'■'  then?" 
No;  he  went  yesterday  to  the  address  she  gave- 
a  very  ordinary  kind  of  lodging-house-but  she  had 
gone 

"  J^^"  ^°'^  ^°  ^°"  propose  to  help  her?" 
She  will  probably  come  back  to  me  again  when  she 
has  spent  he  money  I  gave  her.  I  thought  hlf  ™ 
unpractical  person.  She  wanted  to  use  some  of  it  to 
have  her  photograph  taken.  She  said  it  would  help 
her  to  get  a  position  in  a  theatre. " 

T  7  "11°"'*/^!!'°'^"''°"'^  be  Madame  deProny.     When 
I  last  heard  of  her  siie  was  in  such  a  different  situation  " 
was  It  with  an  Armenian  carpet-merchant?" 

The  suddenness  of  this  question  coming  from  Mrs 
Vassall  .Imost  made  Petrina  smile. 

"I  think  it  was,"  she  admitted.     "Emmy  saw  her 
With  him  at  Homburg."  ^  ^^ 

390 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

Ja^^'  **  Pp<":  *»ng  told  me  all  about  him-such  a 
sad  story.    She  had  gone  into  his  family  as  companion 
she  sajd,  though  I  didn't  understand  to  wh^^    H^ 
called  himseU  a  Russian  prince,  but  she  learned  that 
he  was  nothing  of  the  kind.     When  she  would  have 
exposed  him  he  treated  her  shamefully.     He  even  beat 
her  and  robbed  her  of  her  jewels.     In  Paris  he  left 
her  without  a  word  or  a  penny.     She  was  reduced  to 
such  straits  that  she  was  obUged  to  sing  in  some  very 
ow  place,  where  the  men  smoked  and  drank  during 
the  performance.     This  made  her  ill  and  she  had  to 
give  up  the  position.     Then  some  gentleman-a  mana- 
ger she  called  him-brought  her  to  America  a  few 
months  ago     She  was  to  sing  and  dance  in  comic  plavs  • 
but  she  couldn  t ;  she  was  too  ill.     You  can  see  that'by 
ooking  at  her.    In  San  Francisco  she  had  to  give  up 
the  a  tempt,  and  then  with  nearly  all  her  money  gone 
she  struggled  back  to  the  East  again.     I  don't  faiow 
how  she  knew  about  me;  sh  ^  talked  incoherently  about 
fomaUon  "  actresses  who  had  given  her  the  in- 

''Did  she  know  that  Mr.  Lechmere  and  I  had  returned 
to  this  country?" 

Petrina  put  the  question  boldly,  but  she  felt  that  all 
ha-  future  hfe  depended  on  the  answer. 

T  J■?^!^^f  ^"^  *°  ^^"^  ^^^'^^  something  of  the  sort,  but 
1  didn  t  tell  her  anything  decisive.  I  was  afraid  she 
might  come  here  and  annoy  you.  You  see,  I  didn't 
beheve  that  she  could  be  the  person  she  called  herself 
and  so  I  was  careful  about  what  I  said.  She  asked 
me  where  Mr.  Lechmere  lived  when  he  was  in  Boston 
and  how  she  could  find  him.    Of  course  I  didn't  tell 

"  }^*  ^^  ?''« ^°°^  "l^e?"  Petrina  inquired,  abruptly. 
Like  a  dsfing  woman." 

391 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

hZ^'^I^'^'^-    '^^^  ^»«^«-  '«^'led  Lady  de  Bo- 
huns  words  of  several  months  before.  ^ 

1  dor»  t  mean  that,  Mrs.  Vassall."  she  corrected     "  r 
mean  her  features  and  air.     Was  she  beauS" 
W  I  "  ^".'"^  t^'  ^^^^  "^^  ^<*  •^n  so-  though  she  was 
She  had  lovely  fair  hair,  and  large,  soft,  blue  eyes    TW 
was  a  refinement  about  her  in  spite  of  the  f7ct  that  ,1! 

r^v Sd  S'^- ' -"\^--beL:,°ihe;iru'ui£ 

She  stmcd  t^r""  "''^  ^•^•^'"  ^  ^^^^  ^^^^  had  to  do 
i^s  n^eTsar^es  Th™"''  ^'""*  *^  '"^""^«  °f  «« than 

beST:!X°e^-^:;-t-^--'-  ^-^^ 

an'imtS"  ''^"'"  '"'^''«*'  "^'^^  <«''"'*  «-m  like 

haZhlw  '^  "■  rf.°»l''"'t  believe  that  a  woman  who 
had  held  her  position  and  been  Mr.  Lechmere's  wtfe 
could  have  come  to  such  awful  want  "  ^ 

^^Isn  t  It  only  the  old  story  of  La  Cigale?" 

„X,       y°"  ^'""^  't  may  be  she?" 
wan?y.'°"''  ^  '°"''^'''*  ^^  "^t,"  Petrina  replied, 

heSer?wr:n?^^  '^'  ''°"'*  ^^^  "^nk  we  ought  to 
"If  we  can." 

he'fa.ew.^*^'''  ^'-  ''''^"''''  "^Sht  do  something  if 
,"I'd  rather  he  didn't  know." 
"It  is  naturally  a  delicate  matter  " 

gueslrf  Lm*h.f  "^  '"  *^':'^^^     ^°  °»«  ^°"W  have 

S  fhe  could  tW,?rof^*  ^"^  ~^*  -«  *he  only  expedi- 

;J92 


Let   Not   Man   Put   Asunder 

"If  you  could  find  this  woman,  dear  Mrs.  Vassall  " 
she  began,  slowly,  "I  should  be  willing  to  do  anything 
m  my  power  to  aid  her.  I  should  spare  neither  care 
nor  money  to  keep  her  from  want.  I  should  be  willing 
to  give  her  a  large  income  for  the  rest  of  her  hfe  I 
should  do  anything,  anything,  to  get  her  to  go  away 
and  to  keep  her  from— from  troubling  Mr.  Lechraere  " 

"I  understand  that  dear,"  said  the  Uttle  woman 
sadly.     "If  I  can  help  you,  I  will." 

"?  •.  Lechmere  has  suffered  much  on  her  account. 
I  don't  want  him  to  suffer  more." 

"Then  you  do  think  it  is  she?" 

.i"^^'^'*^'^'  ^"  ^'^^  '^^^'  '^  y°"  °'^  Harry— I  mean 
Mr.  Vassall— can  find  her,  spend  any  sum,  however 
large,  to  feed  and  clothe  and  provide  for  her;  only  send 
her  away." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  look  of  beseeching  in 
Petnna's  eyes,  though  she  tried  to  speak  steadily  and 
to  keep  the  rmg  of  appeal  from  her  voice.  She  would 
not  have  any  one  suspect  that  she  did  not  feel  herself 
mistress  of  the  situation. 

"Poor  dear!"   murmured   Mrs.    Vassall,   the   tears 
startmg  to  her  eyes.     "I  understand  how  you  feel 
You  must  love  him  so!" 
"It  isn't  that,"  Petrina  stammered,  coloring. 
"If  only  you  and  he  had  known  each  other  before  he 
met  this  dreadful  woman,  and  before  you  and  Harry—" 
"It  isn't  that,"  Petrina  repeated,  painfully     "Oh 
Mrs  Vassall,"  she  burst  out  suddenly,  "life  is  so  hard  I 
I  didn  t  know  it  was  possible  to  make  such  mistakes 
J  ve  been  very  foolish.     I've  tangled  myself  up  in  an 
awful  web  of  circumstance,  and  now  I  can  neither  stay 
m  It  nor  get  out.  I've  barn  like  a  person  running  through 
a  quagmire;  with  every  struggle  to  free  myself  I've 
sunk  deeper  in.     What  am  I  to  do?'-* 
393 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


She  would  not  ask  for 


She  checked  herself  aeain 
pJty. 

Yet  ^1,7/  u   A        "anie'ess,  repudiated  woman  " 

any  but  vours     V™^i  r      -   "S  "*;  '^«  I  <lon  t  know 

nes^s  IVe^°ih7:piVX^X:.  TotV^^  „"^X 
foigiveness  of  others  also  hut  T  h„L  i  ,  ,  '''^ 
one',  but  yours.     Yout  sogUr  "  "°*  '^^  '°''  "^^ 

su£g^?^'  '^'^'■'  '"'  °"'^  '"^'^'^  sympatheUc  through 
"And  so  strong." 

ar^^T^e;aT^I£vTu^"''':f''  '^^'^^  ^^^^'-««^ 
feel  them."  ^    ' '°°'  '^^''  '^  y""  <=o"Id  only 

394 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asund 


er 


"But  I  can't." 

"For  all  that  they  will  not  be  withdrawn." 

welfTwarthf  H*"  °'^V  ^^.f'"'  ^"'^  M'«-   Vassal! 
went  away.     She  drove  straight  to  her  son's  office  to 

Til  r  """fl^i^  «««^h  of  "the  foreign  woman.'" 
Then  she  returned  home  to  pass  the  afternoon  in  prayer 


im  i^ 


CHAPTER  V 

fea';^'^V^rh;,^^j;ft^  -"ted  almost  P^-'^-d  by 
think  of  no  hfnsr  Z  .^u^  '"'  u  "  ^'  "°""  She  could 
She  sat  in  tRrronelv  dr"  "^^  ^'^  "°  °*'^"'  ""^^^on- 
eyes  of  the  Copiey  SaitsZl"^"'T'  *'">  ^^^  «°" 
she  no  longer  shfve^fr*£;e.lJ?-L^t  her,  but 

different  to  everytluW  but  ih^i  ^tt'  ^he  was  in- 
in  immediate  stwe  fn  the  ^H^T^'f.u^^'",  ""'^^^  ^a^e 
clouds  came  up;  the'wi^d  bTew  t°i'tf  r^"''"" 
snow.  "If  he  is  rom.r.^  u  •,,  '  ^""  '*  began  to 
thought,  looW„;%Tove^'  tt  Ti""'  "°"'"  P^*"- 
new-fallen  flake!  were^kj^  fni  T^'  °?  '^'^^'^  *« 
Just  before  it  grew  d^k   hf i        ^"{^^  °^  whiteness. 

^^^^^^^^^ 

int^eWThrwa^fodriiSu^^S  til,  L 

a  S^tLt ^^elVSt'/heT't;^^^^^^^^^^ 
back  from  burS^to  tLr^.f  ''^'o''^  ''°'''  ''"^^l^ 
ing  schooled  to  seff-comr^n^  '^^  ^"'  "'^-"  -•"'  ^e- 
of  relief  than  a  rene^of  1;  Tl^-^?  ""  °*^'  «g" 
morning,  of  arranrin^  h/i.  •  '  •"^^"■"Pt^l  in  the 
self  to  work  a^l^^^h  b„o™„?"^T"'-  -^^^  '''  ^er- 
fulness  in  he?  e^^ior  S-^rfe^^l^t?^^^^^^ 
396 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

prisonff.  AU  danger  was  not  passed,  but  the  actual 
moment  at  least  seemed  secure.  She  toik  up  toe  gold^ 
bowl  again,  and  found  a  place  for  it.    She  rJdSihe 

be  rdiung.  It  was  her  nature  to  rebound  from  anxiety 
the  moment  the  stram  became  a  little  Ughter.  EvenS 
found  her  de tennined  to  make  anothfr  effort  Thf 
^me  to  her  from  seeing  the  poor,  sicl:  creature  Mrs 

&  toe  ht1th'"W  •^f  ^*'°"''*  fi""*  himself  dazS 
PrfnV^!  u  I  ^""l  ^^?"*y  *^"'"8f  ^°'  him  at  home. 
Petnna  had  never  tned  to  hold  him  by  coquetry  or  «t 
t  f  %"=°"^«=°'n«and  toem,  and  would  d-  it  now 
^J  M  ^,^-^  ^^'^'^  ^"  »«  the  soft,  trailing  smi 
gled  black  m  which  she  knew  she  lUed  h^V  b"^," 
She  put  diamond  stars  on  her  breast,  and  clasped  a 
diamond  collar  about  her  neck.     As  she  k^ked'^the 

K'esT  ^iSmiL'  ^"r^*'""  °f  her  otn"com! 
pieteness.  And,  she  thought,  wito  an  astonishment 
that  brought  toe  warm  color  to  her  cheek,  "it  is  fTa 
dying  courtesan  toat  he  would  reject  suih  a  „ 

She  dined  late  and  alone.    As  she  rose  from  toe 
table  and  swept  into  the  hall,  toere  was  som^hinf 

"^  thl'T-  H^"*  '""^  ^*°^^  su'ddTntyr/S 
ered.  The  outer  door  was  open,  and  a  cutting  wind 
was  driving  m.  Two  servants  were  whispe^ng'^arthe 
oupde  -"^  "^"""^  *°  '^'^^  ^»«  o^wlio  wSs 

hai^^itrS'tS^SS-' '^^'^'  ^°^"^  •^°-  ^^ 
There  is  a  person  here—" 

?t!^     '^^%^*  "'^  ^°°'-     She  and  Felicia  de  Pronv 
stood  again  face  to  face.  ^ 

It  was  snowing  hard,  and  toe  night  was  cold.     The 

397 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

whiteness  of  theTce^d  thT^  "«<=°,nsciously,  the 
blue  eyes  thatlM7nSli:''''''^'Zf  ""^  ^°''' 
a  rival,  but  only  a  worn^,,*    ^   •  '^'^  ""'  ''«^"> 

shelter  from  the  cold.  '  ''^"^  *'"^"'  ^^^ing 

"Will  you  let  me  come  in?" 

voS;r:;lLraS-r^''  ^  ^°-^«"  --»■  -^^^ 

here'^'borily'^^'""^'  '™'^-     "^^  ^ave  no  right 

;;i  am  so';:'old  "       '^'    ^"^""^  "•«^^- 

"Go  away;  go  away." 

"This  is  my  husband's  house.     Let  me  come  in  " 
comeXSasr""  ^-^-    «  ^-HmrT.e  to 
in'h^r:i:::r_tve7^'^-     "^•'"  -»  --  -me 

beJa^^ai^r^BTf'-^^':-^^^^^^  -'- 

^^Go.  go,  go,"  cried  Petrina.  wildly,  and  dosed  the 
Petri^ated^fSJt  ^ou'nl^'^  "^^  '^^  ^'^^e,  but 

-a  ran  to  the  1^::^  iTltr^:^ J^^LL^ 
.398 


'"'  No'  Man  Put  A.under 

back  .„d  .ta«  Ml     BuTi'^,  *'  ■~»  •!»  'Imnk 
continued  lookSng  out     P^ti^l!^  k       -^  t^'^ess  sobs. 

S  St-:;  r-  • »™  "'»-.'■  Kr  st 
"f^trif r„r:;t' *'i!sr "  ■""  ^'" 

not  turn.  ^    "  ^""'^  ^^^e  snow-drifts,  did 

toiKi^'x^f  tw^?^  ^^"f^  «^-«'  -  she,  too 

ders;  the  wind^^re  It  trSTr"  th/ d""^"^^;;"*  ^*'°"'- 
her  neck  became  like  n^Tnt,  nf  ''>^'no"ds  around 
nothing  in  her  desir^  to'^e"  chthf  ?'  l^"'  "''^  ^^^^ 
geringon  blindly  throughThei"'  "^^^"^^'  ^^S' 

did^^n^t  SfagaS'^th^t'td  T  ^^""^  ^^»  -'^ 
faint?  Or  was^  tdeaU,7  st  A"?"^n?  Was  it  a 
herself  was  growing  weak  Jnt  l^  "1 "°,  '"°'''=-  She 
theonetho^|htofLS♦^*/^'  ^"'"^  °n'  with 
nuddle  of  thf  white  Swiv  if  :„^  ^P^V'^ing  in  the 
took  her  long  ^^''way.    It  was  not  far,  but  it 

The  woman  was  lying^fece  downwards.     Even  in 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Felicia!  Felicia!"   she  murmured     "It   i,  •     p 
tnria.    I  want  to  take  you  back™  "      ■^*- 

^^r-^T;:s^aS;lLtrr-tt:^:^- 

lookX^tL^t'IThlS^harn-  ^"^ 

oSf^si;?cTcr5^^^^^^ 

sumountihesuS/oJfh   '^'  ^i'*  ''^^  ^°''=«  could  not 

sank  a«aii'i:.?oTe^^if:;:;^irhrd'S;tr-  ^'''^ 

scious  woman  in  her  lap  ''^^  ""«='"'- 

she  knew/forbrinS  her  back  t"rf  °''"  "^^"^  ^^ 

She  caUed  again  more  loudly  than  before  but  ♦(, 
onty  passed  away  on  the  wi/d  like  ^t^^^^  ^^^, 

^-^^  ^::^^  S'^aSd  'T"-  1 7'' 
her  there."  -""ung  lor  aid.     I  must  drag 

usitrrnrd'Shr'f  tJ!  '^^^  ^^^^"«*'^'  «>«* 

much,  and,  after  a  few  Z.   Jj^'  wo-nan  was  too 

.e«s  beside  her  charg^f  ShafrSniinK  fS^tt 

400 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 


When  her  mind  awaked  to  it  she  found  it 


cold  herself, 
terrible. 

"Oh,  what  shall  I  do?  What  shall  r  h„7"   u 

thfavelur  "'*  """^ '"°  ''«'>'^  approaching,  far  down 
"Dickl"  she  cried.     "Dickl" 

danger  of  being  trodden  on'sh  '^^  *^''^  *''"«  i"  "o 
all  the  while  Pel  ciT's  hanl  J  ^"*  ''.""'=  ''""•  chafing 
lamps,  like  two  eyes  of  rSfirff  ^'?'"«  ""^  ^^^agf 
Presently  their  light  h t  ^  th^  ^'T^'Ser  and  nearer, 
themselves.  ^  *''^  roadside ;  now  it  was  on 

but^^iLl^^o'undtartV^^^^  ^^r  '^^^  ^°-  -^l" 
heird'"  ''•^'''"  ^''^  -«1  again,  and  this  time  he 

i^-^^.^'i£St?^"=^ 

"Oh  Dickl    ni,   n^?*,'^,*°  t'^e  ground. 

"  WhaUs    t,  ?et'rfna7 '  wL?"  ^'^  ""'^  ^^y- 
What's  that  in  your  aS    J!^    ^''  ^°"  ''°'"g  there? 
"Stoop  and^e,  Dick  "  ^  '^""^"^    ^^  "  ^  '"an?' 

The  sight  of  the  onfw  f'' Jhhe"r  he^d'^'^r"  1°°^- 
lap  o   the  0.W  seemed  too  ^^o^^r^  t^rt^tat 


i-et  Not   Man   Put  Asunder 

Felicia  in  his  arms     'Tvp  f™    J       "  *'""''  '•■'«»P'nK 
were  coming  to  r^'  Yoi  were  ^"'^  -^"l  "*  "^f'     ^°» 

He  kissed  h,.r  o„M  1-  f  conunjT  home  " 

moa^rf^^iS"  ""'•  ■""  Pa^ionately,  and  U.e  woman 

You  musHift  h^'i„^t':,^^,^;  -J  ^^r «?••  '^^''h 

li^aT     """tr  "'«'  "-"  -n  walk  "    "  ^''  '"  ""^ 

All  at  once  she  found  herself  calm     Dick  «n^  p  r  • 

had  met,  and  the  worst  was  ov^    Pnr  =     fu     '^^''"" 

might  be  to  come  she  f Jh  ^t,  anythmg  there 

sp^.  *•**  '*"  "'^  supreme  courage  of  de- 


CHAPTER  vr 


the  doctor  came  she  had  rLS  ST"  '''"'•''•  "^^ore 
n-s-s,  and  had  given  her  f^/^  f  "'"='"  '°  conscious- 
Go  and  tell  Mr  I  „ur^  T'^  brandy, 
to  one  of  the  women  fvhenh"  '"'"'l:  "'"^  -'^^''Percd 
Je  servants  from  the  rl^' wJi,e"sr1  '^'  ^^^^^'h 
the  bed.     Felicia  for  th^  ^  ^"^  ^'ood  back  from 

«"."■  The  stSi"  £"=*•  ri  '^"^«^--  -" 

thm  cheek.  Lechmere  not  to  ,f/«  ?^'  ^'''^  '°  her 
distance.  She  opened  her  eves  an/  f  ^T  "'"^  «'  « 
She  was  like  a  child  thnth  ^""^  '"'"*''''  *hem  again 
and  lies  a  minute  i„qlS  enf  '"''  ^^"^  ^^°"  «"eep 
well-being.  Petdna  klpt  bacTrtt  t  IS'^  P^^^-^' 
mere  crept  forward  on  tip-t^  in'u  u' ■'^t^'^^-     Lech- 

Fehaa  opened  hpr  =,;  •     ''y  'nch. 

her.  There'^^al  no"s5s:":;Vl  '""''«'  -ound 
She  seemed  satisfied  inh  r  wonder  in  her  gaze 
fprt.  LechmSe  grew  boldj  ^°T'^  ^^^'"'h  and  comJ 
%ht.  When  her^eyL  S  un„^„"1,?'°°^  ^°^^«^d  in  the 
ered  about  her  UpJ  "P°"  ^im  a  half-smile  flick 

T tens  I    C'est  toi^"  cK 
had  seen  him  yesterday     "^5  '^^'-^'^^^'y,  as  if  she 
Lechmere  kn^U  j     ^i     .  ^  °"  i'wmWm  ?" 

403 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
cau'XS: !::;'"  ^^'""^  ''''^^^-  ^ut  the  sou„d 
stood.  towards  the  comer  where  Petrina 

Lechi"  pfiT  "'°  "•"  ^"^^  '^^^  °f  y°«'  darling," 

"Not  noV  u""'"  ^"""^  demanded. 
Wot  now;  when  you  are  stronger." 

in.i^Te?o;J:^;oiS'c;'„?;rrr-'-'''^- 

liable  to  sudden  rai.e"rn         l*"*  ^'■«"<=h  actress, 
people  hidmgt  rhfcomers^'    -,':.-    i  ^^^  ^^^  - 

it  was  better  to  appease  her     P„*  " 
forward  to  the  liaht  »nT  *     J    Petnna  came  slowly 

Besides,  she  was  ve^y^'sfroJr  S."  1°  """"^  °^  '^^^'^'^'f- 
of  the  storm  would  do  W^'  ^^  ^^^  *^  exposure 
Felicia  lootedlt  onetother""  ''^'  '''"^-     ^^e  and 

:'ivernrrsotwhi^:srTr  ^^^'^'  '•-«-■ 

it  in  London?  Yes  yes  Im,  r  l'''.'"tf'=^-  ^^sn't 
remember  her,  do^^/y^'u,  Mck  Wtl  ^''""-  ^- 
/awte,-  Humphrey  de  Boh..J^l  -r  i'*"  woman,  pas 
cet  HumphrlyT^^lfi^J,  ^i^-     Quel  noceur  ,ue 

not  fa^f  Ae'Sgs^f^'^'^-'^  ^''^^^^-     "^et  us 

remfm'br'"lfi:^  r  wh  '  h"""^"^  "^  ^*  P^«--     "I 
this  afternoon     You  didn'*  l.   ""^u""  ^'■°'"  ^""^   "^°or 

I  was  coM^h,^corrsltZ,X?l^wo„r-t 
404 


Let   Not   Man  Put  Asunder 


said,  '(  J,  go,  gor  and  shut  the 


let  me  enter,      -.h. 
door  upon  me." 

at'peU'nr™'"  ''^'"'"''  ^^'^^'•'  ^'-""g  "P  keenly 

"Into  the  snow''" 

"  Yes." 

"To  die?" 

Petrina  hesitated  again. 

"Tf ;".  ^^^  ^"'■"^  ''"self  to  say. 

garderea?    Mais  non  Dick  nmt      Jl,     I    Ettuvas 

indifferently  to  the  broken  Jh,!  shadow,  hstemng 

from  the  biside     Fehda  wis  EeT    '"^  T'^"^  ""'' 
ncss,  Lechmere  f rom   iov     Th^        ^u™"*  ^'""^  ^««^- 

presenceorforgotZi^^ewastLe'    "   '^"°"'  ^" 
405 


Let   Not   Man   Put  Asunder 
^^;;Who  is  this  woman,  Dick?"  Petrfna  heard  Fehcia 

"Whv  /v,"^T-     What  is  her  name'' 
to.ar'fCe^t.hT^''^'"-''^    Are  we  not 

Vasfali  iJ'sh:""?^'^'^  f  ""=■    S'^^  -  tJ-t  Madame 
"Yes,  dear.     But—" 
"She  is  not  your  wife'" 

u^SlS^.-aL^t'^utetr''?-  -"'''-  ^-""-     Let 
/.«.Sr"  "°*  ^°"^  -^"^^    Say  so.    £,fe  „.,,,  ^,  ,„ 

sid?t7^^:  ^Ttikirha!r°r  '^^  ""^^  ^^'^y  ^™- 

^H^Witscoii,il^;[^-:-— ^0^ 

teet?u;^n1herds'-'.r4:.^'>^  S  Sa'shin,  her 
wife!  YouwiUnot'sav„or''T^^"'  She  is  your 
writhing  under  the  wh'LovLet        '"^"""^   ^^^•"• 

said!^Toaxt'l^'^"^^^-S'  'rr '"  ^-'""- 
when  you  are  better''  *^^  °^  ^"  ^^^^^^  things 

v-ii^^^t;^;::l;:S:r^-wed 

w:fe^    Que  je  suis  malheureuser  ^^^  '"  y°"' 

talrn  yourself,   madame!"  said   P^frJ^,      *      , 
commg  forward  once  more  from  n,..ul'  f '^™'y' 
mg  beside  the  bed.     "  I  am  no^h  ^,t "°"  ^"'  ^^^"^■ 
Lechmere,   who  was  kneeling,  s^tg  to  his  feet 
400 


Let    Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

The  woman,  appeased  as  suddenly  as  she  h.,,1  K„» 
angered,  sank  back  upon  the  pillows  ^^  '^'" 

And  who  then,  is  his  wife?"  she  asked,  tranquiUv 
away"'     ^'  ^^'""^'  -°-^«"y'  -^  agSTum^^ 
Felicia  laughed  lightly. 

to"y?u"aK?-  I Zr' ""''?■    I  ha—me  back 
You^wJlS   alhealfiT,:^^^^^^^^^ 

She  laughed  again,  and  presently  began  to  sin?     It 

''HamleT'' '  Thi  ^''"^"^'^  ^'  ^'""^  '"^'^^  --  in 
namiet.        t  he  voice  was  true    hn*  the  „„< 

out  faintly,  as  though  all  strenglk  were  gone        '^""' 

'T^w^l-'''™''^  '^"*  ^°"«  ''eau  profonde 
La  VViUis  au  regard  de  feu." 

Petrina  and  Lechmere  listened  brerthless  There 
was  something  weird  in  the  plaintive  Danish  air  sung 
by  a  woman  who  seemed  dying.  "  La-la,  la-lTlaZ" 
leiTugh     "'         "'''  """^  ""^^^""'^  Prett;,t!i 

Pe?rina^tft  tht''^'"^  ""^I"  ^^'  ^°^^'''  ^««  announced, 
mnna  left  the  room,  and,  gomg  into  the  large,  square 

,nH  ff      T,*'"'"'^  T"^"'y  '"'^  «»  arm-chair     She  felt 
mifferent  to  everything.     She  would  spend  the  nieh 

"buT  ^rTtV,""-"'  '  '•""^-'here  was  no  helj  for  that  S. 
-but  in  the  morning  she  would  escaped  Her  whok 
soul  revolted  against  him.  She  had  clung  to  such  pS 
tection  as  his  name  could  give  her;  but,  after  what  had 
occun-ed  to-mght,  her  one  desire  was  t^  be  g^ne  She 
was  forming  no  plans;  she  was  only  waiting  L  tSe 
dayhght  in  order  to  go  forth  again,  alone  but  free 
407 


^^^    Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

she  knew  there  waWn!,       u        "  ^^^  needed  a  friend 

not  Vassal],  but  his^otfer  Thf*'  ^^^•"-  ^^  was 
>n  her  taind.  but  it  was  the  3  ""^  ^^""^  connected 
needed  now,  rather  thin  fh.  ^"man's  tenderness  she 
himaelf  was  ther"  ifwas  so™"  'v  ^"'  ^''  Wassail 
even  if  she  never  Hin".  fu  ™^*'""S  '"  know  that 
WlfeetandaTkfor'ir''"^  ""'  "^  ""-"  --at 

LechLTrciiillrttt^jt:  L'r  "^"-^^^  '^'^^n 

doctor  and  Felicia  alon°    He  *hl     "u™'  ^^^^"^  'he 
other  arm-chair.  "^  ''''^^»'  himself  into  an- 

::  Well?"  Petrina  asked,  without  looking  up. 

a  succession  of  shocte  '  sif  ^  ^T}  '^'^^-  °'  rather 
he  thinks  that  it  is  onfy  a  mattTo   ^"  °.f '•     ^  '«°" 

You  have  at  least  H,r  "^""  of  hours." 
your^own  roof."     ^'*  *'  ^""^"^  of  having  her  under 
,"^hat's  something.' 

it  wouIdTav^tn'  S^^tt^V  1,*  ^H,  ^^<^^'  "^hat 
in  at  first?"  "^«erent  had  J  allowed  her  to  come 

She  Would  not  shiVt  tu- 
from  him  some  bitt  reiSc^f  7" i    ^''^  '""^^^'^ 
he  spoke  almost  apathetSr-     "*'  '°  '^^'-  «"^Pri«e, 

-/S^:t;^;-tg^^-,hewas,,entina„. 
^Pljnse  tS.  and  sh^tm'of '""^-     "^  '"^^'^  ""  - 

408 


so 


i^et  Not  Man   Put    Asunder 

st^  w^^^\r.Ste^^^^^  too.  the 

t^noddcd  approval  of  the  phrase.      ^ 

before  „,r  Yol  tot  T^T  l''*  ^°"  ^"--^^  P"' 
me  protection.  For  ftat  f  wa"s  "Tr  ?"  ^°"  °ff"«J 
that  you  were  free  to  SveihTlwa'ifS  ^  ^"PP^^'^'J 

''t'^.Tsarthr'-^-"^^^ 

-,T*     '      ^"^  ^^^'  ^ery  soon." 

I  made  you  think  that  vn„  ^     m  u  "^  y°"  astrav. 

you  werl  a„dtri'lTer"r„t^T:jr/lt%fr 
come  your  husband,  when  all  «h;.  \ft  r  ''""''^  '^'^ 
always  must  be,  he^s     I  hav!  ^'''^  ^  ^^'''  «"d 

myself,  unless  it  is  to  sav  that  f        "'"'.""'  '°  "^^^  f""- 
"That  isn't  quite  the  ^iJ  T  ^''u'  ^  '''^'"-ion." 
speak,"  Petrina'  slldl'^i^^'i;^;;'  ";^i*J,-f  '^ 
what  you  mean  anH  ,f  tu       ."^^'^'-Y-       1   understand 

have  doncTw^ht  share  it"  Bu^a'r  '"^^^'^*  ^^^ 
to  say  only  this    Vonrr.;!!    *•    ^"' «t  present  I  want 

Possi'bly  iVut  L^'hrS:™  T  '"v  *°  '"^■ 

myself  to  think  that  I  couldn^t  h!       it     !  -f  ^"  ^"""^'^t 
ask  you  to  forgive  me  "  '^'^^^^'"''  ^"^  I  "n  only 

409 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

be  inadequate  ""^"^  ^»''e  «^Wch  would  not 

They  sat  in  silence  till  fh»  j    < 
room;  Uaen  they  roTe  aLJ  vSt  Z"";  t"'  °'  '""^  '^■ 
hear  what  he  had  to  say  '"''^'  '"™'  eager  to 

HelS^^Ct  i?o^f^reht7\^^  ^°^  ^"^^  -«/' 
very  low,  thoughX  mL  r^  .u°  ^  ^'^^  ^er.  She's 
"HTwk"^  a  FreSwT™^,!;:'.^  ''""^'^  ''^^  «'^'^*-  She 
mere!  Si>eTrina^hn"''{!r?^  expression  at  Lech- 
^f^^.u'l^lt:^^'^  to  wUhdrai. 

^'^P^^i^S.ti^-     --Here 

flush  had  come  over Tr  Ind  .^''i- ''"^  ^  ^^^«"«h 
Now  and  then  she  Lt^L^  ?^^f.*•"ed  restlessly, 
then  she  moaned  ^  "nmtelligibly;  now  and 

bJirkX^trirst-ii^  <»-  ^y  the 

mg  woman.  By-and  bv  ^^v.  ^  "^  °^^'  ^^^  sleep- 
'ooked  up  at  him"^  but  ther™""'!  J^"""  '"•  P^trina 
yond  an  express  on  of  f  "^^^  "°th,ng  m  his  face  be- 
have thoughrtirh:'d&cLn'r-  °"^  '"■^'•^ 

yield  him  her  place  by  the  l^  W  u  ^l""f  °'^ered  to 
and.  softly  taking  anotW  ^'  ''^  ^'^""'^  ^is  head. 
They  could  no^'sSf  ""rhev''  '1.'^°^"  ^''^'  ^er 
AH  future  considerSmu^^K^Hf"''*  i'^'^'^^'y  t^ink. 
vapid  soul  of  the  woma^o^t^  tT^."""^'^  ^^^  ^-. 
its  feeble  body.  °"  ^^^  ^''  ^ad  slipped  from 

410 


Let  Not   Man  Put  Asunder 

ourand  oW^  N°"^*'*  ^u'*=f  '"  '^'  ^^'^  l°°ked  worn- 
out  and  old.  Now,  as  she  lay  sleeping,  her  beautiful 
hair  waving  loosely  on  the  pillow,  afd  fever  g"vnj 

turned"  oter'th  T  1^«^V  ""^^  '-'  Wehnfre' 
turned  to  her.     She  tossed  restlessly,  and  beean  atrain 

clt^hr  word^-"-     ^^^^-e^  he-t  ^rhTlo 

"Oh  les  critiques  I    Quels  sales  cochons  /" 

her  filrtf  '.^V'  '"™r'*  "P  ^^^  ^hole  history  of 
her  fight  smce  the  days  when  her  voice  began  to  fail 
La:hmere  understood  this,  and  the  blood  surged  no 
went  on  ir\  ^''""^  ^^""''^  t"  '"=«  «°th,ng,  and 
spotTgalr^^  "^""^  '""^  '^"-     ^y-^-by  Fe'- 

The  words  were  very  distinctly  spoken,  and  Petrina 

p^;'^";srnSrw?ii7irstii/^^^  "'^"^^^  - 

o'cS.™'"'  ^'""'"^  "'  '^'^  ^^"'^-    "  ^^«  «"er  one 

iZ?°t\  ^u"  r",*  1°  ''^  ''°^^"  he  whispered  to  Pe- 
tnna,  but  she  shook  her  head.    Just  then  Felicia  wokr 

at  her  Z't"^  ^'h ^''  ^'"^  ^^'"^  "P  ^'  'he  two  sitting 
tV.,  ,1^  ^-  ^"^  expression  was  feverishly  bright 
T^y  did  not  speak  to  her,  hoping  that  she  would  go  to 
sle^ly^""-       °"  ^  '"'^^  "^°"*"  ^he  looked  at  tliem 

JL^L^'"  ^K'"^^'  "*■  '^^*-  "^^-'»  ""^^  de  me 
regardercommefaP-toiettamottresse." 

*    uJx.^      fr   "^"^"^  P^*""a  started  up;  but  she  con- 

FeUcia  gave  a  short  laugh,  and  turned  her  head  away 
411  ^ 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

mind.  ^'"^'*'°'*  passing  through  her 

"  '^i!  ?*  ™  *"*  ""^  voir 
»i  belle  en  ce  miroir.*" 

y^^^r::SaZ:^-^;:'  -''^«  -at  e^ort. 

burst  out,  angrily,  tuminVher  Z  ""^  ^"""  '"^'"  «he 
•nere.  "  Paillard-y™"Lem^  agam  towards  Lech- 
you,  Dick?_he  wouW  noM.7  "*  '"'^  ^^'''ard,  don't 
said  I  sang  out  ^ul^l  u""^  ""^  "  ^"^  "«>«■  He 
whom  princes  lovJdTJ'      "  ^"^'-  ^^''"^  ^e  Prony 

laughed,  softly  as  if  snJlt         /  ".""^  ^WoMr,"  she 
wa^hegood^^t  tS'wL%?f'^^'^-     "^'''  ^^at 

saidSefl^"  '^ul^sheLr"'  ^'^^*^"  L-hmere 
to  sij^  agafn-a^Ltch'ofan  old  f""°"u^".'^  >-«- 

;i:3  dl^"sr-  °^  ^-^--'^  Co  ri'tl^S  thLt^; 

|?iS;u[Stita^X\T4;?^''-    f-^-^^^ 
she  spoke  again  ^      ^^  ^^^  «'°"W  sleep,  but 

"IZ  darlilg"°T^^:i:  tlr ^^'  ^^  ^-'  ^ickr- 
"And  you  wfre  Sng  for  4Tp  '  "■'"''  ^'''■" 
Vignon,  who  used  to  be  at  th.  r  ^^  ^""P^-  Jeanne 
I  saw  her  in  San  Ssco  sT  '''''■i°'l™^  ^°  ^hen 
you  in  Naples.  She  was  ver.  ^^  T^  ^^^  ^ad  seen 
me  to  get  back  to  New  Yo,7  ^T^^V  •""'  ""''  '^^^P^d 
412        ^*  «^^«  ™e  courage 


Let  Not    Man   Put  Asunder 

Vassall    Sne  was  a  ZiTn^l  "oo^  "^^r^^^vt 
But  it's  all  over  now,  dearest  " 

.h.rt.d.„,  i,.vi„/,hr.tai,'SH"  """ '"'' 

wnen  we    used    to    sing    •  Nuit  d'hymfnee'   together 
and  you  were  always  a  little  flat?     Ah    fu  /"seiner, 

DUi  I  lorget.     (^-o  me  donne  mal  t  la  t&e     I  nevpr  h^A 
a  good  memory  for  details.     '  Kuit  d'lZnSn^nl, 
nuit  d'amourl' "  she  sairr  u^Atu      "?^*"*'  ^  douce 
"n...ii    ■  ,■  .  "^'  ^™  then  stopped  abnintlv 

more  loudly  than   before    'cT^™  v"^."^  ^^^'"' 

once?    Yes    w«    T  ♦!,•  i  ,  ,  °"  *  y°"  divorce  me 

once.     Yes,  yes,  I  think-and  for  so  little.     I  foreet 

413 


Let  Not  M.n  p^,  Asunder 

what  I  did,  but  it  wasn't  much     C^ 
chant,  fnon  cher.    Mai,  "iTfini    T"^  '?  "'  '«  *nt. 
all  over  now,  all  over  now  a  if^':  "  "  ^"  °^^'  "ow. 
She  spoke  mor^  nn^        a"— over— now." 

Then  hefh^ad^rnrutnTerln^i  '""  ^^-  ^a.ed. 
«>  'o  be  pa..sing  into  „n  ^'*°!''<1'^^  and  she  seem- 
^tartcd  up  wiU.  a  UkexcTaZr "'"??;  L-*""' " 
forward.  ^  ^'°"^*»°''' and  Petrina  came 

Jat  is  itr  he  Whispered,  terrified.    "I3^^,. 

o"t  S"ft',  AtS"'"^"'^'^'''  «™'y-  "She  will  come 
She   bent  over  Felicia  b.,a      ■     , 

mo.stened  the  ^^-^J^'Z^Tt  ^"-  '"'^'^  «he 
btl^**l'^°^"'''^«''^"hcoLne  F?,-^,^"''  »^""y 
breathed  heavily.  It  was  eSi  th«f  '^  '^^ '""'  ^ut 
had  come.  ^^  ^""^n'  Wat  a  great  change 

.    "f'"  the  doctor  return  soon?"  P  *  ■ 

■ously.  ^°°"-     Petnna  asked,  anx- 

"Not  before  six,  I  think     H„  u  j 
for  medicines  and  ^ome  tack  "      ^^  *°  ^°  *»  Boston 

I  don't  think  she  is  dyine  "  Pm  ■ 
courage  him.      As  she  Zk!\h     PT  ^^-  *°  ^n- 
agam  and  began  to  waW     pj-  *°°^  "P  'he  fan 
easily.  """^  "■    i'elicm  breathed  more 

Pe2  "  "~'-ness  or  sleep."  Lechmere  wWs- 

Th^morrSr;:t-*-ed. 

word  on  either  sfde  FeUcZZ'"'  ^^  ^'^  'Scarcely  a 
fhe  breathed  heavily  a  othlrf ''""''  ''"'^"y-  At  times 
long  fearful  pauses';h  „  Ihe  did  n^T^'^''  *here  w^e 

About  three  o'clock  ^L       .     ""'  '"'^'he  at  all 
scream.  "'""^  '^'=  ^'^^  with  a  start  and  a 

"Dickl  Dick,"  she  called,  loudly. 
414 


Let  Not    Man  Put  Asunder 

ing'£'ar«  atutt;.""  '"^'"  ""^  «"--^'  «>-- 
I  am  a  CatholicI"  she  shrieked    wilrllv     -n  • 

^r^zf,^'^  ^  P7^t"'6:;Sck,  s 

IVeLn^'b^dtoJ;^rrr'G':dTL7'    l'""  ^^'"^- 
priest  I"  •     ^  o"^  *^od  s  sake,  bring  tne  a 

FrZr  ''Brc;im"'Do'''''"r'  ^^^"^'"^  '°  her  i„ 
priest  will  come"  ^  "°'  ''^■"^  yourself.     The 

and  the  man  cam"  pJo  '  t"  "£'t  Tu'"  '""  '"  ^'^'•' 
of  the  sleighs  and -^ir  ,  ;,  !""  ^'^'^  *>""  ^^^e  one 
he  was  coning  round'tVf-''/"/."  *"  *°"'"-  ^hile 
two  brief  note!.  The  first  it  f^'^'p''''",'^'-' ''''  ^■""'-• 
whose  mission  church  in  Rrnntl  ^'  ^^V"''  ^''">^'«' 
the  Meerstead.  It  beg '^  tm  t"'  '"T  '^'  ""^^^"^^  ♦" 
speed  to  minister  i^!dZTca^"^r^ ''''''' '"'^''^^ 
second  was  to  Vassal!  »n^^^  '-athol  c  woman.  The 
lines :  "'  ^"'^  contained  but  three  or  four 

st^d^elLSnTitLe^Lr  '°»'  *°  "eattheMeer- 
"'  Petrina." 

415 


Let   Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"Oh,  Dick."  she  cried,  hoarsely,  clinging  t<.  him  with 
bothanns.  "'m  afraid  I  I'm  afraid!  I've  been  a 
bad  won^n.  I've  done  much  harm.  I  have  ruined 
people  s  hves  Now  I've  reached  the  end  of  all.  I  am 
like  Faus    when  Mephistopheles  comes  to  carry  him 

Z"^"tu  '^'■"  "'''?*-" '"  ''™"'* '  «"  'he  pleasure  is  sucked 
out.  There  is  nothing  left  for  me  but  to  go— ko-ko- 
whcre,  Dick,  where?  Oh,  Dick,  must  I  die?  Can't 
you  save  me?  Save  rael  do  save  mel  I  know  you 
can  if  you  only  will.  But  you  were  always  revenge- 
ful    You  divorced  me  because  I  went  off  with  the  Due 

let  me  die  becauso-because  of  all  the  rest.     Oh  save 

me  save  me,  save  mel    Don't  let  me  diel    I'm  afraid!" 

He  held  her  tightly  to  his  heart,  kissing  her  mouth, 

her  eyes,  her  hair,  but  unable  to  say  a  word  to  comfort 

Jisshir'"'  ^'^  '''  '''"'■  """  ^^^'^  P'»-^  - 

'■»^^l  t°^^"'*-  "'^  P"^"'  ^°"'^'^"  she  cried  at  last. 
Mas  that  woman  sent  for  him?" 

"Yes,"  Petrina  answered,  stepping  forward.    "Be 
patient,  madame.     He  will  soon  be  here  " 

"Have  you  a  rosary?"  Felicia  asked,  suddenly    "I've 

ost  mine  my  pretty  ruby  one.     It  went  with  the  other 

things     Ce  sale  Arm6nien  me  Va  voU.    No,  I  sold  it- 

r,  V  1  R  "T  *'  ^  Poii'^i^re.     It  was  precisely 

Ouy  de  Ruynes  who  gave  it  to  me,  after-    But  I  for- 

foiid  praT" ""         ""  °^  '^"*-     ^^-  '^  ^  ^^  ^  '"^^y  J 
"I  will  get  you  one,"  said  Petrina,  slipping  out  of 
«^e  room.     Presently  she  returned  with  it;  fhe  had 
borrowed  it  from  a  servant. 

Felicia  seized  it  eagerly  and  began  her  pravers  at 
once :  r-    ^  •■ 

"  'Ave  Maria,  gratia  plena,  Dominus  tecum;  benedicta 
416 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 
&f  wtortw  nostrae.    Amen  •" 

Itend"  ^y"'°"°«-    ie  6on  Z)i«,  will  under- 

how!"'*"''  '''"*"'"  '"'  »t«°»™e'-«l.  "I  don't  know 
coIv^l'^?j;w'^T'•    ^°»  «'«  not  a  Catholic.    Be 

^^^^^r^t^  'r'  *°  -V'^"-*  ^" "athot 
SmL'  h«ve?  If  r.r..'^''*-  ^*  ,"^  «°  «'»  the 
O^oL^!^  ^  '  **'**'  """^  ^'"  ™«-     Be  a 

he  ««'w  Sfethi"  ""'  """'"^  *""•'  *°  ^'^^'^ 

qu;:!;,^^i'°;^i  rrni;'^"-'' """'"  '^^  — «>. 
n'^^'^'r';.^^^  ^°'-'' '»''  ^  "-pt-  you; 

"Om«,  mon  adorte,  out  " 

h^J!Z*^7^'''\  '^^  '^^-  «  another  tone.  "Per- 
naps  that  will  make  me  well  " 

It  was  five  when  the  priest  arrived.    Felicia  made 
her  confession  and  received  Pv#ror„«  tt    , . ""*  !"^°e 

417 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

three  to  the  bedside!  where  Fdidfrv    •^'j?  ^'^^  ^1 

new  change  had  co^e  over  her    ll^^'  ^"'*  .'*^"«r-     ^ 

"You  wiU  be  baptized?"  «h!     ^^^'^.^^somg  fast. 

■^^'^Yer^dtS'^^^^^^^^^ 

"Now." 

n.L'^i^  t^SptsV""^  °^^'  '^^^  '-«'  -'^  I-h- 

"I  irtXtX^iJl'*"'^^'  -."  he  said,  gravely. 
The  pnest  hesitated. 
''Mi*''""*  P^^Pa'-ation,  it  would  be  irregular  " 

the  beautiful  golden  b^wf  "s^'h^'S  hew'^r^?^^ 

priest's  convenience     Lerhn,»,r  i      ,f     ,^  '*  ^O""  the 

tified  water  was  Sred^J^L^f ""  ""^^  "^e  sano 

The  service  waTso^^  ^^  and  t^r'^'f  ''^''• 

Petrina  accompanied  hZi^l    !  P"^^*  withdrew. 

stirwit;?S,lVi:t''t-^^^^^^^^ 

PetHna  stool  a  rnoZn'tLTt^,^-^;^^^^^ 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
^'^dt^anlo^^^l^Se'S:-^  »'«-''■    She  lifted 

st^r^ir"  ""  ""'^  ^*  «'^*'  -<J  then  bu«t  forth 

Portez  mon  flme  au  sein  d4  deuxf 
aeubon,,esui3&toi-pardom,el" 

ofS:^5.ttSh^^SrL«v^^«'-'^-'>3^ 

aspire.  P*^"^"  naif-heathen  spirit  could 

cl^tfdS^nS^.'-S^-^^^nad.whaclcand 
need  her  ministrations  now  "°  "'"^  "^""^n  to 

thrJ:,\tsXiTth?ri°'  "1^  ^-'-^  -J 

for  Lechmere  would  come  „„^  k"°'  R  *°  ^er  room, 
need  her.  She  was  verrtir^  ^K^^'^^  ^'^  "^gh 
finished  yet.  She  would  cS  i",?*  ^'^  *««  "ot 
and  then-go.  Through  Ei^L  J°"^*'  '?  **  "^^ 
been  maturing.  She  sawdimT^  u  T^?"*  P'^^^  had 
,  Just  now  shl  was  tooTeS^Tv  *lf  *  f^'  "^"^  *»  d"- 
ly.  She  could  only  sU  Sanrf^'^  ?'  ^J^y^hing  clear- 
with  Lechmere  ^"^  "^^^  ^<"-  ^er  last  words 

thrXKhriarud"'^  ^"'•''-'3^  there  rang 
no  other,  and  which  causS'^/?'  "T^  Z^"^  »  "kf 
stop  still.  *"^  the  heart  of  the  hearer  to 

419 


Let  Not  Man   Put  Asunder 

Petrina  leaped  to  her  feet  with  an  awful  cry.  and  then 
sank  back  into  her  chair  again.    Up  the  staimay  ^ 
was  coming  breathlessly-Harry  VassaU. 
"Where?    Where?"  he  cried. 

She  could  only  point  to  the  bedroom.  He  rushed 
to  the  door  and  threw  it  open.  As  he  did  so.  a  faint 
cloud  of  smoke  rolled  out. 

Vassall  stood  on  the  threshold  and  looked  in  Fe- 
hcia  was  lying  with  cahn,  white,  upturned  face,  her 
fan-  hair  waving  over  the  pillows.  By  the  bedside 
Lechme^  had  fallen,  with  his  cheek  rating  ^  £ 

C?      I      !!rU°"'  "^^"^  ^^^  '^"PPed  from  him, 
had  overturned  the  golden  bowl,  and  the  baptismal 

water  was  minghng  with  his  blood.  ^^ 


I 


CHAPTER  Vn 

The  doctor  came  and  went.  He  and  VassaU  did 
what  was  needful  in  the  chamber  of  d^th  pSn'Sf 
would  not  move  from  her  station  in  the  hall  Th^ 
women  begged  her  to  come  away,  to  he  down  to  2e 
some  refreshment,  or  at  the  very  least  to  ch^ge  her 
fcll  ^t  fu'  r'**.""*  ^^^  ^^^^i  from  tof  si7 

S^nn!  w  Tu^*"""""  ""'*  ^^  ''^y  summer  of  the  dial 
monds;  but  that  was  all.  Vassal!  was  within  busv 
with  his  silent  task,  and  she  would  wait  for  hT'  S 

seern^  to  her,  she  could  bear  any  disaster  witho-t 
^^g  down.  WTien  the  doctor  came  out  she  rose^d 
^.ffl  'S  ^"^  *"'  kindnesses;  she  could  do  it  wZ 
out  effort;  she  was  quite  herself.  When  he  left  she  sat 
down  again,  to  wait  for  VassaU 

S  J'iL^""  T  ^^^  '^^f'"'  **  '^«*'  >»«  opened  the  door. 
She  rose  as  he  advance!  towards  her.  firing  the  few 
seconds  before  he  spoke  she  noticed  that  he  wa!  ttdnZ 
and  more  gray  than  when  she  had  last  seen  hhn  H^ 
expression,  always  ascetic,  had  grown  spwTualiS 
Uirough  suffering;  while  the  markrf  stoop  wSh  which 
he  walked  was  typical  of  the  man  who  is  no  iZS 
thinking  much  of  this  world's  Ughter  things  ^ 

All  IS  ready  now,"  he  said,  with  genUe  gravity 

"«  Slews'  '  '"''  '"^**"'=^'  ^^  ---'y  ''"S  is 
421 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"May  I  go  in?" 

"Do  you  think  you  can  bear  it?" 

wiTHfll!  '° ''°  **■    "  ^^  ^  easier  if  you  are  there  " 
He  led  the  way,  and  she  followed  him.    On  Se  E, 
old  he  stepped  aside  so  that  she  entered  first     ThSi 

tL'^S  ^"'  ''"*  "\«"-«ity  was  overwSg 
»W  iif  ?  '  ^^««?^g  broadly  in,  turned  into  3v 
that  which,  in  the  lamplight  of  the  night'^  vi^^  hS 
passed  weirdly,  like  a  dream  ^'  *^'^ 

h^H^I"'*^?  ^'f"^*  ^^  P^*^n«  had  last  seen  her  •  thev 
K  placed  Lechmere  on  a  couch  beside  her  M  ffis 
face  was  quite  serene;  there  was  nothing  viable  tW 
could  recall  the  awfulness  of  his  last  a^t  ^* 

fnl         4TJ"*,^'°'^'y  ^""^ard,  and  stood  looWnir 
^at  she  nt  °  v%°^  ""^  ^'''  '^^'"t's  compan^^J"^ 
What  she  felt  chiefly  was  the  peace  which^mT^  ♦« 

Petrina  stood  there  long— alone  and   sil™*     Qi, 

In  death  they  were  not  divided  " 

them  both  back  toVemsSv^""'*  "^  *'"'  ^™'"  '"°"«'»* 
4-:2 


I 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

"In  death,"  said  Vassal!,  quieUy,  "many  are  united 
who  have  been  divided  in  life." 

She  turned  towards  him,  and,  for  the  first  time  since 
he  had  come  into  the  house,  their  eyes  met.  They  looked 
at  each  oiber  eamesUy,  sadly,  and  without  conscious- 
ness  01  self. 

"You  believe,"  she  asked,  at  last,  taking  her  eyes 
iro  .1  his  and  lettmg  them  wander  from  Felicia  to  Lech- 
mere  and  back  again,  "you  believe  that  when  every- 
thing has  gone  wrong  in  this  life  it  is  possible  for  some- 
thing  at  least  to  be  put  right  in  another?" 

Her  question  had  come  sofUy;  his  answer  went  more 
softly  still. 

"I  beUeve  in  a  Divine  Adjuster  of  all  human  errors, 
for  whom  eternity  is  as  time." 

"Could  you  teach  me  to  believe  that,  too?" 
I  could  try." 

Again  they  stood  for  a  long  while  silent.  The  peace- 
fulness  of  the  two  who  were  dead  s-med  to  pass  into 
the  two  who  were  still  living. 

iu'l^^^-"  ^'f  F/^'^r-  ^*  '^^*-  "0°  y°»  remember 
that  long  ago  I  told  you  I  did  not  believe  in  sin?  I  have 
come  to  know  better.  I  myself  have  sinned.  I  have 
sinned  against  you-against  him-against  her.  If 
ther.^  IS  this  Divine  Adjuster  of  whom  you  speak  I  have 
sinned  against  Him,  too.  I  want  to  work  out  my  for- 
giveness. I  don't  know  what  I  ought  to  do  or  how  I 
should  begin;  that  I  shall  learn  in  time.  But  to-day 
I  wish  only  to  teU  you  that  this  intention  will  hereafter 
rule  my  hfe  And,  Harry,  "she  added,  turning  again  to 
look  him  m  the  eyes, "  I  want  you  to  help  me.  I  don't  ask 
you  to  forgive  me.  Some  day  when  I  merit  it  I  know 
you  will  do  so.  I  don't  deserve  forgiveness  yet-  but  I 
am  going  to  try  to  earn  it." 
"It  is  I  who  ought  to  speak  hke  that."  he  said,  hum- 
423 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 

favor."  *    "  *'*"»«  you  to  do  me  a  great 

No,  no,"  ^he  add^til  'Tlh'''''"*  ^  Cambridge? 
face,  "not  as  you  wishS  m.  *    *  T  ">*  ^°°»'  «  Ws 
""Stress-no,  Ha^y  "^aft^Vu^"  'l^°'«'  ""t  as  its 
«ble.    I  am  going  to  ask^ouTn^"  '*?/  "«*  "»'t  P™^ 
-to  the  houle  thaV  wis  ours InT'  '*  ^^  »°  *"  "^ 
let  me  stay  for  a  whill^n^Il         ^^''°"  street.    But 
foundings  and  wUh  your  S^l'  ""T^'  ^"^''  y°"  «-- 
her     I've  suffered  a'^^^t  dSr  vJ^""  ^  ''^^ 
to  the  very  bone.    I  wMt  n„w '*     J^  ''*«'  scourged 
another  woman's  sym^v     V  °  '^..f°«forted  ^th 
I  «Aall  see  you  somSs-^ft  J°"  T"  '^  "^^  """; 
to  learn  from  her.    ShT^t?  ^^^^^  »'"t  I  want 
get  from  any  one  dse  ^l^ZuV^^^  ^  ^^^^  never 
and  heal  me.    Oh.  Harry  1'™^''"'''  ^f'  *^*  ««• 
but  I  mean  to  begin  auYvi?    •      ^x  '"'^''^  woman- 
first  lessons  homl^^ZZ^   P'"'    ^  ^««t  to  grt^; 
«hall  be  very  humSe-^Jshailt^^i"  ^""".^^  y°""     I 
f  «e  day  I  may  rise    Tvi  ?      ''^'"^  ''"^n;  but 
don't  care  for  it  any  more     n?-, '''"^  "^e  world.     I 
/ered-I  could  heirsomTothJr     '^~^*^  «"  ^'^^  suf! 
the  snares  into  which  rT  "Tn^"*""  w°«an  to  escane 

for  that.  You:':z^^::jf^-i*hinkuo^s: 

been  so  good  to  me  If  °i^^  ^^'^'7  ««  how.  She's 
would  let  me  go-Fl  couM^  '"'"'?  ^^^  "«-«  vou 
-if  I  could  df  anyU^ine  h 'r™  ""'^*  y°"  ^^^h  Cw 
else-then  perhaps^^^f  i^^^T  7^"'  for  some  onl 
atone  for  being  hwe  t^  J?^/^*^  ^^^  "ow,  I  mieht 
where,  Harry,™:j;^/-J;^ -er  ^^^  been  ^J- 

4f4 


Let  Not  Man  Put  Asunder 
eyfl&AT^'-  '^'  ^'»-  *«  ceased  her 

Wack  „,be  and  pressed  ii  to  ^slL^^Art^L^'f '""^ 
let  her  hand  rest  for  an  instant  ^"  ,  ^^''^j^elt,  she 

new  ray  place  was  here  "  "  *'°"'''^'  ^nd  I 


THE  END 


^iftricMn  Contemponty  Novels 

THE  MANAGER  OF 
THE  B.  &  A. 

By  VAUGHAN  KESTER 

Novel,  to  i.  pMuM  ihZt^,     ~~°" 


»hi,i,  .u-  .,-.  devl™  and  7l  ?  /      .'""^•"'"'''"''eh 


road  genenU  •nanager.-'-rA.^^^ii^^Nr^y^r'  '"'' 


"A  rattling  good  railroad  atorv 
ep«ode  «  thrillingly  dranaSc  '    *    »  Thedoring 

and  incid«.t."-Ar«  K^tTtJ^i^^I^f  "'  """•*"' 

I'wt  Journo/.  "  *'  '**  """W  done  it."-JV«, 

Comment,  from  tariou,  revui,,„,  , 

,','  ?r^^-  <='"«r,  engroming." 

„  """^l  ""'"^Wy  from  scene  to  «ene" 


[: 


American  Qmtemponuy  Jfp^fgu 

THE  STRENGTfToF 
THE  HILLS 

By  FLORENCE  WILKINSON 

TKiM  i,  rt.  m«»  0/  ,*.  ,^„  On,^UmtK  American 
N««d,  to  h,  pMUM  during  190I.  ^""^^ 

Th«  Adirondack  WoT^vT^il-i     j  mountain  .ir.  .  .   . 

ch  Jrt'J:?c'S"."  ^!::;iT  -conv^Hon.,.  „d  thi. 
PhiloMthia  sZ-d.  •""""*  '"*«™«  to  the  tale."- 
^^noch    Holm,   i,   .   ^^^^    .tudy."-BrcH^ 

Commmta  of  varioua  rnineers  I 
"  Out  of  the  ordinary  " 
;;  One  of  the  novde  that  are  worth  whUe." 
"  ri~"t^  SiC^.'  ""-■  "<«  mind-holding... 
A  splendid  example  of  American  fiction  at  ite  beat " 

roat  ito.  r> 

tr  A  „  «„  ^  Orna««««J  Clcth.  J1.S0. 

fl^!^ifl^^OTHERS.  PUBLISHERS 


AmeHan  Contemporary  Novels 


WESTERFELT 

By  WILL   N.  HARBEN 

Thi,  it  Ih,  tiMtk  of  Ih,  tmtv  On^o-Vom*  Amtritan  Notrit 
to  it  tMitkid  during  1901. 

"  A  good,  ingcnioiu  itory,  which  growi  more  and  more 
alSHri*  "   ""   '""""   P«««<'»"-Ri<:h«d    Henry 

"  It  \|  a  highly  dran^tic  prcMaiUtion  of  the  warring 
forcei.  ^.  human  iwMion.,  conadence,  and  distorted  re- 
bgioua  beUef..  The  .tory  from  firstpage  to  Ust  i.  vibrant 
with  iiutained  power."— T/w.Oitftoot,  N.  Y. 

"  I  have  qply  words  of  praiie  to  write  of  '  Westerfelt ' 
It  ■*  an  uncommonly  good  .tory,  wherein  ii  presented  a 
very  iniercsfmg  picture  of  American  life  as  known  in  the 
author's  native  state."— Bokoh  Timn. 

"Mr.  Harben  has  Uved  among  North  GeorgU  people' 
he  has  learned  their  ways  and  their  life ;  and.  learning  this' 
he  has  woven  these  people  and  their  life  into  a  story  f uU  of 
«iarm«.d  truth.  It  has  the  best  claim  on  the  attention  of 
the  pubhc— It  IS  thoroughly  readable."-.A«toMte  Journal. 
Comment*  from  various  nvitiMrt  3 

"  A  love  story,  pure  and  simple." 

"  Unusual  and  unhackneyed." 

"  Full  of  dramatic  elements." 

"  One  of  the  best  novels." 

"  Strong  throughout." 


Post  am. 
HARPER 


CIM,  Onumntti,  ti-so 
BROTHERS,  PUBLISHERS 


Amgfcw  Gontemponuy  Noygja 

SURRENDER 

By  A.  MAURICE  LOW 

This  U  tt,  ^  V  tt.  !«*,  On^Uomh  ^«.rt«« 

«•  rMch«d.         "•"•*«"«>«  "l«  11*  grip  til]  th.  lut  Un« 
N«r  York.  ^  """^  """  tlf'-r*.  (>«*«»; 

»i^rdl*„s':2.'£:!""'''''^'"^°-«"  which 
V- hold  ^s::::^!^^-^--^- -««.._ 

CommtHU  from  variout  rnumr,  , 
"  Hi.  i^^  WadnnBton  almoiphere." 


